The United Nations is poised to honor 64 military, police, and civilian peacekeepers from various nations who lost their lives while serving the UN, with a special ceremony scheduled for Thursday (May 30) to mark the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, as officially announced.
Among the posthumous recipients of the Dag Hammarskjold medals is Muhammad Zafar Abbas, a Pakistani civilian who served in the Office of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen.
The UN Secretary-General will preside over the solemn ceremony in the Trusteeship Council Chamber at UN Headquarters in New York. Beforehand, he will lay a wreath in honor of the more than 4,300 UN peacekeepers who have lost their lives since 1948, including 170 Pakistani peacekeepers who have sacrificed their lives during Pakistan’s extensive participation in UN peace operations.
Pakistan stands as the 5th largest contributor of military and police personnel to UN peace operations, with over 3,800 currently serving in Abyei, the Central African Republic, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, and Western Sahara.
The press release states that in 1948, the historic decision was made to deploy military observers to the Middle East to supervise the implementation of Israel-Arab Armistice Agreements, leading to the establishment of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization. Since then, more than two million peacekeepers from 125 countries have served in 71 operations worldwide.
During the formal ceremonies, the Secretary-General will also present the 2023 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award to Major Radhika Sen, a military officer from India, for her service with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). The Award, created in 2016, recognizes individuals’ efforts in promoting the principles of UN Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace, and security.
In his message, Guterres pays tribute to the more than 76,000 United Nations peacekeepers who exemplify humanity’s highest ideals, acknowledging their courageous work in some of the world’s most dangerous and unstable places to protect civilians, uphold human rights, support elections, and strengthen institutions. He emphasizes that more than 4,300 peacekeepers have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving under the UN flag, vowing to never forget them.
The theme for the 2024 International Day of UN Peacekeepers is “Fit for the future, building better together,” denoting the enduring significance of UN Peacekeeping as part of the solution for over 75 years. The Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace policy brief outlines a path for multilateral peace and security operations to remain viable tools in addressing future crises and conflicts.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, underscores the unique global partnership of UN Peacekeeping, with peacekeepers from over 120 countries making a meaningful difference daily in some of the world’s most challenging places. He emphasizes the evolving nature of UN Peacekeeping, leveraging partnerships to be responsive and fit-for-purpose, promoting stability, protecting the vulnerable, and aiding in building durable peace.
The International Day of UN Peacekeepers, established by the UN General Assembly in 2002, serves as a tribute to all men and women serving in peacekeeping roles and honors the memory of those who have lost their lives in the pursuit of peace.
