UIAA: Respect for Human Dignity and Remembrance of those Lost in the Mountains

Recently, an article appeared on the UIAA website with which I couldn't help but agree. Every time someone dies in the mountains, a wave of outrage spreads across social media: people who are not in the know post for the umpteenth time a photo of the "green boot" and discuss how inhumane climbers are for not removing another body from another eight-thousander or some extremely dangerous mountain. Please, take photos of bodies only if it is necessary for the prosecutor's office. Never post these photos publicly.

I am posting the news with minimal edits.

UIAA Declaration: Human Dignity and Respect for the Dead

Discovering a body is likely to be disturbing. We must respond to this with sensitivity and common sense.

The UIAA Declaration on Hiking, Climbing and Mountaineering, published in 2024, sets out the generally accepted norms of behavior that the UIAA considers optimal. This includes the ethics and style of ascents, as well as environmental and social aspects. The above quote is taken from the section “Balance between Risk, Success and Failure.”

Due to climate change, the discovery of bodies on the upper slopes of high mountains is becoming more frequent. Documenting these finds has become easier thanks to smartphones with cameras. In some cases, documentation may be necessary and justified. However, it has also led to an increase in social media content, where videos of dead and dying people have sparked moral debate and raised questions about respect for human dignity.

Posting graphic images without filtering or context is abhorrent and shows disrespect to the deceased and their loved ones. The UIAA, which represents member federations from more than 70 countries, recognizes that cultural and religious differences affect attitudes toward the bodies of the dead.

Often the bodies of climbers remain where they died due to the impossibility of moving them. It is hard to comprehend the mindset of those who, passing by bodies, stop to take a photo, let alone post it on social media. This is contrary to the ethics of the Declaration.

This analysis is not a call for censorship, but for humanity. Tragedy in the mountains should never be treated as a spectacle. Behind every accident is a person, a story, and a community that deserves dignity and care. Climbers are encouraged to act as they would like others to act towards them, and expedition leaders to ensure that members of their groups act with sensitivity when discovering bodies. In this way, the dignity of all climbers will be ensured.

Source: UIAA ↗, Communication