International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
Every year on 29 May, the United Nations commemorates the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. On this day, we pay tribute to all the women and men who have served as military, police or civilians in UN Peacekeeping operations. We commend their professionalism, dedication and courage and honor the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace.
As the world faces numerous grave challenges, many related to conflict, peacekeeping and security let us remember that United Nations peacekeeping is today very complex and in many cases now peacemaking.
Many thousands of soldiers and police work under the blue flag, alongside international and national civilian staff, consultants, individual contractors and UNVs, serving in United Nations Peacekeeping Missions or Political Missions. Together we all contribute to peace, serving in hazardous and dangerous environments to provide security to some of the world’s most vulnerable people.
The ‘Blue Helmets’ are deployed across multiple peacekeeping operations around the world have saved countless lives, advanced peace and inspired hope in many.
We continue to lose staff while protecting and serving others, let us never forget the sacrifices made by our friends and colleagues in the name of peace. They all had vastly differing backgrounds, but all shared bravery and the belief that UN peacekeeping is and must remain a global force for good.
On this International Day of UN Peacekeepers, we honor our heroes – the more than one million men and women who have served under the UN flag with pride, distinction, devotion and courage since the very first deployment in 1948, serving at great personal risk.
It is with great sadness that the last time there were no fatalities within peacekeeping in a one year period was 1955.
We will always pay our highest tribute to the 3,925 peacekeepers who have lost their lives while in service of protecting and helping others.
We will be forever in their debt. Let us never forget that United Nations staff will always work to bring a better future for others.
When we achieve our ultimate shared goal of peace, human rights and human dignity for all people, a peaceful, sustainable and just world for future generations will have been created.