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Humanitarian Memorial

On 1 October, 2025, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales launched a new memorial at Gunnersbury Park. The Humanitarian Memorial, created by artist Michael Landy, CBE, RA, both honours humanitarian aid workers who have been killed in the course of their work, and celebrates humanitarianism and those who continue to put their lives at risk to help others in need. 

This is the first memorial of its kind, which commemorates humanitarians of all nationalities and is the work of the Humanitarian Memorial Committee, a voluntary group of experienced humanitarian workers. In 2014, the Committee was established in response to the fact that there was nowhere for humanitarians, and their families, friends and colleagues to reflect on the service given and sacrifices made by humanitarians, both those who have been killed and those who continue their work in extreme situations. 

Hands And Flowers@4X Green

'We cannot let people in need go without hope'

The Memorial

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The Humanitarian Memorial itself is a circle of 15 human-scale figures, linked at the hands, but with gaps left for visitors to complete the circle themselves. Inside the circle, text and images are drawn onto the figures, telling stories of humanitarian aid work.

On each figure is a story from a humanitarian worker, a loved one of a humanitarian worker, or a recipient of humanitarian assistance which have been provided by international aid agencies including Oxfam, Save the Children and Care International. These stories remain anonymous and stripped of time and place to maintain privacy, but also to emphasise the universality and timelessness of these experiences all around the world for people directly affected by, or delivering life-saving assistance in, many conflicts and disasters globally – yesterday, today and tomorrow. 

Some contain distressing topics, which are unfortunately the reality of modern humanitarian work, but many others are testaments to the courage and determination that continues to inspire humanitarians today.

To read each story, please click here.

They didn't just teach me how to cope but they taught me that to help people in need is the real meaning of our life. Since then I couldn't have become anything else than a humanitarian worker.

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That’s why we are peace-building. We give them space to come together to learn, discuss and eat. In time this helps them to accept one another.

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They have no one to protect them. That’s where we come in. Our protection is not like the protection that the military is supposed to give you. We don’t use weapons. Our power is in our voice.

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    About the Artist

    The Humantarian Memorial Committee worked with the Contemporary Art Society *Consultancy to select the artist to provide the memorial, and after a rigorous shortlisting process Michael Landy CBE was chosen. 

    Michael Landy was born in London in 1963, and continues to live and work in London. 

    Landy’s concern with the attribution of value and ownership is central to his practice, notably in Break Down (2001), in which every one of the artist’s 7,227 possessions was systematically destroyed by Landy and his assistants.

    In a continued documentation of passing intimacies, for London TFL’s Art on the Underground, Landy created Acts of Kindness (2011-2012) where he invited members of the public to submit stories of kindness later featured on London Underground stations. 

    In 2017, in collaboration with NEON, Greece and the public of Athens, Landy staged the large-scale exhibition Breaking News- Athens at the disused Diplarios School and building over a four-month period. It was followed later that year by DEMONSTRATION, the Fleck Celestory commission at Powerplant, Toronto, with an installation of drawings built with content submitted by the Canadian public. 


    Landy’s works are held in public institutions internationally, including the Tate Collection, London; the Arts Council, England; the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; the Museum of Modern Art, New York; and the Centre Pompidou, Paris. Landy received a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 2021.

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    A Living Artwork

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    It has always been intended that the Memorial is a living artwork, with current humanitarians, friends, colleagues and family members coming together to remember loved ones, and be inspired by the work of humanitarians which came before them. 

    The fifteen stories featured are just the beginning. We ask that those who have been affected by the subject matter represented by memorial, to submit their own stories to our online portal, which will in turn display them alongside the existing 15 stories.

    If you would like to add your story, please click on the link below

    Submit your story

    The Humanitarian Memorial Commitee

    The Humanitarian Memorial Committee will continue to exist with renewed membership, and will support Gunnersbury Park in their use and promotion of the memorial as the focus for public awareness, education and promotion of humanitarianism, and in commemoration of those who have died, through events and outreach.

    Sir Brendan Gormley, formerly CEO of Disasters Emergency Committee

    Sir John Holmes (Chair), formerly UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, and Chair of the International Rescue Committee; currently Trustee of the British Red Cross

    Harbinder Kaur, former HR Director Care International

    Dr Elaine Laycock, MBE, former Medical Director of SOS Bosnia, and the founder of the Humanitarian Memorial Initiative.

    Victoria Metcalfe-Hough, Research Associate of Humanitarian Policy Group (ODI)

    Sara Pantuliano, CMG CEO of the Overseas Development Institute

    Nick Roseveare MBE formerly Humanitarian Director, Oxfam GB, and CEO Mines Advisory Group

    Dame Barbara Stocking, former CEO of Oxfam GB, and President of Murray Edwards College, Cambridge, currently leading the international effort to coordinate future pandemic preparedness

    Sir Nick Young, formerly CEO of the British Red Cross, and CEO of Macmillan Cancer Support

     

    Resources for more information

    If you would like to learn more about humanitarianism, please follow the links below:

    Humanitarian Principles and Standards

    Humanitarian Law

    World Humanitarian Day

    FAQs

    The Memorial is located in Gunnersbury Park, just south of the Round Pond between the Cedars of Lebanon.

    The Memorial has been designed with all visitors in mind. All of the paths leading to the Memorial are wheelchair accessible, and there is dedicated blue badge parking in both Gunnersbury Park car parks.

    The Memorial has been 'accessioned' into the permanent collection of Gunnersbury Park Museum, who will care for it.

    If you have seen any damage to the Memorial, please report it by emailing info@visitgunnersbury.org.

    Humanitarian aid workers assist people in need due to conflicts, natural disasters, outbreaks, a breakdown of healthcare or infrastructure, and more. Each year, tens of thousands of international humanitarian aid workers are deployed worldwide. Humanitarian aid deployments can last weeks to years, but many of the humanitarian aid workers in the greatest jeopardy are the local responders, working within their own countries at times of distress. The majority of humanitarian aid workers are volunteers within their own communities. This is emotionally and physically exhausting work, which can be very dangerous. This is the first dedicated global memorial to humanitarian aid workers.

    Each of the figures bears words from a person directly affected by humanitarian work: whether as a recipient or a provider. The Committee canvassed aid agencies to gather a range of perspectives on humanitarian aid, which can help to bring this work to life for audiences. Each of Landy’s figures responds to one of the fifteen stories, creating a series of illustrations around the text themes.

    The UK has a long tradition of public support for humanitarian crises around the world, backed by much-respected humanitarian charities and other organisations.

    Those in need are often either fleeing from, or trapped in, conflicts or in situations where natural disasters have happened. Livelihoods are fragile or under severe threat, and many of the locations are ones of economic hardship. Parties to the conflict (state or non-state actors), or criminal elements, may often attack humanitarians operations to disrupt, divert or discourage the provision of life-sustaining resources (water, sanitation, food, health services, shelter materials etc) or the provision of protection for certain populations. In such settings there is a steadily increasing trend of Intimidation, deliberate targeting and killing of humanitarian aid workers worldwide.  The overwhelming majority are nationals – trying to assist their compatriots in need. Surprisingly, there is no global dedicated site for relatives, friends and colleagues to gather and reflect on their loved ones' sacrifices and celebrate their work.

    In August 2014, on World Humanitarian Day, a group of volunteers instigated the first event to celebrate and remember humanitarian workers. This event, a non-religious one for all faiths and none, took place outside Westminster Abbey at the Memorial for Innocent Victims of Conflict. The event, which was preceded by Evensong at Westminster Abbey with special humanitarian prayers for those who wished to attend, has grown each year and demonstrates a need for a memorial that is specifically devoted to humanitarian aid workers.

    Gunnersbury Park intends to host future World Humanitarian Day events at the Memorial

    The Committee has raised the funds for the memorial from generous donations from a range of private individuals, humanitarian organisations and charities concerned to promote humanitarianism and the protection of humanitarian workers, and also from ‘The LIBOR Fund’ which held fines imposed on banks and distributed them for public benefit primarily by supporting charities focussed on emergency services, veterans and families of the Armed Forces community, and other initiatives.

    The Committee has allocated a fixed sum towards the ongoing maintenance and repair of the work for the years to come. Gunnersbury Museum and Park Development Trust is not paying for the production or installation of the memorial, although it will insure the work when it is in place.

    The Memorial is located in Gunnersbury Park, just south of the Round Pond between the Cedars of Lebanon.

    The Memorial has been designed with all visitors in mind. All of the paths leading to the Memorial are wheelchair accessible, and there is dedicated blue badge parking in both Gunnersbury Park car parks.

    The Memorial has been 'accessioned' into the permanent collection of Gunnersbury Park Museum, who will care for it.

    If you have seen any damage to the Memorial, please report it by emailing info@visitgunnersbury.org.

    Humanitarian aid workers assist people in need due to conflicts, natural disasters, outbreaks, a breakdown of healthcare or infrastructure, and more. Each year, tens of thousands of international humanitarian aid workers are deployed worldwide. Humanitarian aid deployments can last weeks to years, but many of the humanitarian aid workers in the greatest jeopardy are the local responders, working within their own countries at times of distress. The majority of humanitarian aid workers are volunteers within their own communities. This is emotionally and physically exhausting work, which can be very dangerous. This is the first dedicated global memorial to humanitarian aid workers.

    Each of the figures bears words from a person directly affected by humanitarian work: whether as a recipient or a provider. The Committee canvassed aid agencies to gather a range of perspectives on humanitarian aid, which can help to bring this work to life for audiences. Each of Landy’s figures responds to one of the fifteen stories, creating a series of illustrations around the text themes.

    The UK has a long tradition of public support for humanitarian crises around the world, backed by much-respected humanitarian charities and other organisations.

    Those in need are often either fleeing from, or trapped in, conflicts or in situations where natural disasters have happened. Livelihoods are fragile or under severe threat, and many of the locations are ones of economic hardship. Parties to the conflict (state or non-state actors), or criminal elements, may often attack humanitarians operations to disrupt, divert or discourage the provision of life-sustaining resources (water, sanitation, food, health services, shelter materials etc) or the provision of protection for certain populations. In such settings there is a steadily increasing trend of Intimidation, deliberate targeting and killing of humanitarian aid workers worldwide.  The overwhelming majority are nationals – trying to assist their compatriots in need. Surprisingly, there is no global dedicated site for relatives, friends and colleagues to gather and reflect on their loved ones' sacrifices and celebrate their work.

    In August 2014, on World Humanitarian Day, a group of volunteers instigated the first event to celebrate and remember humanitarian workers. This event, a non-religious one for all faiths and none, took place outside Westminster Abbey at the Memorial for Innocent Victims of Conflict. The event, which was preceded by Evensong at Westminster Abbey with special humanitarian prayers for those who wished to attend, has grown each year and demonstrates a need for a memorial that is specifically devoted to humanitarian aid workers.

    Gunnersbury Park intends to host future World Humanitarian Day events at the Memorial

    The Committee has raised the funds for the memorial from generous donations from a range of private individuals, humanitarian organisations and charities concerned to promote humanitarianism and the protection of humanitarian workers, and also from ‘The LIBOR Fund’ which held fines imposed on banks and distributed them for public benefit primarily by supporting charities focussed on emergency services, veterans and families of the Armed Forces community, and other initiatives.

    The Committee has allocated a fixed sum towards the ongoing maintenance and repair of the work for the years to come. Gunnersbury Museum and Park Development Trust is not paying for the production or installation of the memorial, although it will insure the work when it is in place.