Fit for the future, building better together
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 honours 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.
Peace Begins with Me Campaign
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. Visit the campaign website for more information. | Five Tools For Keeping Peace When we think about keeping peace, we often think of mediation, treaties, and international laws. However, peacekeepers utilize a wider array of tools to keep and nurture peace in some of the world’s most fragile places. As we mark the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, we look at five non-traditional tools peacekeepers use to protect the communities that they serve. |
Events
To mark the International Day at UN Headquarters, the UN Secretary-General will lay a wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial in honour of fallen peacekeepers at 9:45 a.m. ET on Thursday, 30 May 2024.
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.
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