The United Nations commemorated nearly 4,500 peacekeepers who died in the line of duty over the past 78 years on the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, observed annually on May 29. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres paid tribute to these peacekeepers during a ceremony at the UN headquarters in New York. He highlighted the vital role of UN peacekeeping in responding effectively to conflicts worldwide, emphasizing the bravery and dedication of peacekeepers who risk their lives to maintain peace and security.
UN peacekeeping has been recognized as a crucial international response to conflict situations, with peacekeepers actively involved in curbing violence, facilitating political solutions, supporting elections, providing humanitarian aid, and other essential tasks. Guterres praised the courage and initiative displayed by peacekeepers in the face of significant risks, acknowledging their unwavering commitment to service and sacrifice. The Dag Hammarskjold Medal was posthumously awarded to 68 peacekeepers from 33 countries, including those who lost their lives in the line of duty last year.
Two peacekeepers, Sergii Prykhodko of Ukraine and Matias Reyes of Uruguay, were honored with the Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal for Exceptional Courage for their bravery. Additionally, Abhilasha Barak of India and Stephanie Königs of Germany were recognized with the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year and UN Woman Police Officer of the Year awards, respectively. Currently, more than 51,000 civilians, military personnel, and police officers are serving in 11 UN peacekeeping missions worldwide. Over the 78 years of UN peacekeeping efforts, more than 2 million peacekeepers have served in 71 missions across four continents.
The International Day of UN Peacekeepers, observed on May 29, was designated by the UN General Assembly in 2003 to honor the contributions and sacrifices of peacekeepers worldwide.
