PURPOSE: During the International day of U.N. Peacekeepers every year on 29 May, we pay tribute to the professionalism, dedication and courage of all the men and women serving in UN peacekeeping operations, and honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace.
FORUM: “Peace begins with me,” International Day of the United Nations Peacekeepers 2023. Today, peacekeeping is more challenging than ever amidst rising global political tensions. Conflicts are more complex and prolonged, peacekeepers face terrorists, armed groups and their allies who have access to powerful modern weapons and technology. Misinformation and disinformation are fueling violence against our personnel and partners. During the celebrations we will honor the invaluable contribution of uniformed and civilian peacekeepers to the United Nations and the communities that they serve. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #PKday , #Peacekeeping, #29May, #Peacebegins, #PK75, #WomenInPeacekeeping.
EVENTS: For 75 years, the United Nations peacekeeping missions have made a tangible difference in the lives of millions of people caught up in catastrophic conflict. Peacekeepers are ordinary people, working in dangerous and strenuous conditions to achieve extraordinary outcomes. They help prevent conflict, protect civilians, advance political solutions, and support democratic processes. Despite the challenges, peacekeepers persevere, alongside many partners, in the collective pursuit of peace. Join us on May 29th to observe the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers 2023 and to Pay Tribute to the fallen. A Wreath Laying Ceremony will be held at the North Lawn building of the UNHQ with the United Nations Peacekeeping.
Medal recipients: At the meeting, by resolution 1121 (1997), the U.N. Security Council established the United Nations Dag Hammarskjöld Medal as a posthumous award to members of peacekeeping operations "as a tribute to the sacrifice of those who have lost their life as a result of service in peacekeeping operations under the operational control and authority of the United Nations".
Award: The United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award recognises the dedication and effort of an individual peacekeeper in promoting the principles within the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325. It was first given out in 2016.
Wreath Laying Ceremony: The commemorations are held at the U.N. Headquarters, United Nations offices and at different U.N. Peacekeeping missions Here is the List of Personnel to be Posthumously Awarded the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal.
PODCASTS: Peacekeepers are constantly searching for new ways to be more progressive, innovative, and effective through the Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) and A4P+ initiatives , which set ambitious goals and priority areas for progress. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: Throughout the month of May, join the campaign “ Peace begins with me, with you, with all of us.”. Get the communication materials and the social media package for the month-long campaign!
WHY WE OBSERVE THE DAY?
The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers observed on 29 May, offers a chance to pay tribute to the uniformed and civilians personnel's invaluable contribution to the work of the Organization. The UN Peacekeeping is the largest and most visible representation of the United Nations. It is a collective investment in global peace, security, and stability. A United Nations peacekeeping operation should only use force as a measure of last resort. It should always be calibrated in a precise, proportional and appropriate manner, within the principle of the minimum force necessary to achieve the desired effect, while sustaining consent for the mission and its mandate. The use of force by a United Nations peacekeeping operation always has political implications and can often give rise to unforeseen circumstances.
ACTIONS
In certain volatile situations, the U.N. Security Council has given United Nations peacekeeping operations “robust” mandates authorizing them to “use all necessary means” to deter forceful attempts to disrupt the political process, protect civilians under imminent threat of physical attack, and/or assist the national authorities in maintaining law and order. The Military UN personnel can be called upon to:
- Protect Civilian populations and United Nations personnel;
- Monitor a disputed border (Current operations) - Monitor and observe United Nations Peacebuilding processes in post-conflict areas
- Provide Human Security across a Conflict Zone;
- Provide security during Election day (politics);
- Assist in-country Military Soldier personnel with training and support
- Assist ex-combatants in implementing the Peace agreements; they may have signed.
Support actions of peace around the world.
PARTNERSHIPS
The day is is organized by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the Department of Peace Operations, the United Nations Police and co-hosted by the fields missions of: