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: “Fit for the future, building better together.” International Day of the United Nations Peacekeepers 2024. For 76 years, United Nations peacekeepers have worked to save and change lives in the world’s most fragile political and security situations. Since 1948, more than two million uniformed and civilian personnel have helped countries to transition from war to peace. Today, more than 70,000 peacekeepers serve in 11 missions deployed in hotspots around the world. Observed under the theme “Fit for the future, building better together,” this year’s International Day looks at the invaluable contributions military, police and civilian peacekeepers have made over the last seven decades. It encapsulates the spirit of progress and collective action towards creating a more equal, just and sustainable world. Over the years, peacekeeping has evolved to adapt to the changing political landscape and nature of conflicts which have become more complex and interconnected. With support from UN member countries, it continues to advance the path set forth in the UN Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace which calls for a more robust, holistic and collective response to the security threats of today and tomorrow. Despite the challenges, peacekeepers persevere, alongside many partners, in the collective pursuit of peace. The International Day pays tribute to the service and sacrifice of peacekeepers and the resilience of the communities that they serve. It honors the more than 4,000 peacekeepers who have lost their lives serving for peace. This campaign also calls on each of us to join the global movement for peace. Alone, we can never succeed. But, together, we can be a strong force for change. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #PKday, #FitForTheFuture, #BuildingBetterTogether, #Peacekeeping, #29May, #Peacebegins, #WomenInPeacekeeping.
EVENTS: on May 29th, We observe a minute of silence for the fallen during the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers 2024. On Thursday, May 30th 2024, starting at 9:45 a.m. ET, a Wreath Laying Ceremony will be held at the North Lawn building of the UNHQ with the United Nations Peacekeeping. the UN Secretary-General will lay a wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial in honour of fallen peacekeepers. Following that, at 11 a.m. ET, he will preside over an in-person ceremony at which the Dag Hammarskjold Medal will be awarded posthumously to fallen peacekeepers. He will also present the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year award. Follow the ceremony on UN Web TV. The Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, will be the guest at the noon briefing on 30 May. All events can be followed live on UN Web TV.
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 recognizes 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. To mark the International Day at UN Headquarters, the UN Secretary-General will lay a wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial in honor of fallen peacekeepers at 9:45 a.m. ET on Thursday, 30 May 2024.
List of Personnel to be Posthumously Awarded the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal on 30 May 2024
Follow the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal Awards Ceremony on UN Web TV (11:00 am, 30 May 2024)
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.
STATEMENTS: Read the Statement of the United Nations Scretary-General on International Day for United Nations Peacekeepers 2024; May 29th and the Remarks by Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the Secretary-General.
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: Peace begins with me, with you, with all of us.” Throughout the month of May, join the global movement for peace. Show your support for peacekeepers, community leaders, activists and many others committed to making the world more secure, inspiring us all to take action for peace. Explore the poster, the social media toolkit. Get the communication materials!
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: