UN Headquarters to Mark International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers on 29 May

In 1948, a historic decision was made to deploy military observers to the Middle East to supervise the implementation of the Israel-Arab Armistice Agreements, establishing what became the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization. Since that time, more than two million peacekeepers have served in 71 operations around the world. Today, approximately 68,000 women and men serve as military, police, and civilian personnel in 11 conflict zones across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. A total of 119 countries currently contribute uniformed personnel.

Tanzania is the 10th largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping. It currently deploys 1,548 military and police personnel, including 183 women, to the UN’s peacekeeping operations in Abyei, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, and South Sudan.

During ceremonies at United Nations Headquarters, Secretary-General António Guterres will lay a wreath to honour the more than 4,400 UN peacekeepers who have lost their lives since 1948. He will also preside over a ceremony in the Trusteeship Council Chamber, where Dag Hammarskjöld Medals will be awarded posthumously to 57 military, police, and civilian peacekeepers who lost their lives serving under the UN flag last year. Among those to be honoured posthumously with the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal is Corporal Juma Ngai Kagose of Tanzania, who served with the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

The Secretary General will also present the 2024 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award to Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme from Ghana, and the UN Woman Police Officer of the Year Award to Superintendent Zainab Gbla of Sierra Leone. Both awardees currently serve with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

This year’s theme for the Day is “The Future of Peacekeeping.” The theme underscores what the ‘Pact for the Future’ adopted last year at the United Nations, including a commitment to adapt peacekeeping to a changing world, as expressed through Member States’ pledges to fill capability gaps and help UN peacekeeping respond to emerging challenges and new realities. This commitment was reiterated at the recent Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin.

In his message, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres stated: “Today, peacekeepers face increasingly complex situations in an increasingly complex world... Now more than ever, the world needs the United Nations—and the United Nations needs peacekeeping that is fully equipped for today’s realities and tomorrow’s challenges.”

“Today, we honour their service,” Mr. Guterres continued. “We draw inspiration from their resilience, dedication, and courage. And we remember all the brave women and men who made the ultimate sacrifice for peace. We will never forget them and we will carry their work forward.”

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, added: “Our personnel are our most important capability. The sacrifices made by our peacekeepers call for more than remembrance; they demand action. Throughout its history, peacekeeping has always adapted to ever-changing contexts to achieve results. The future of peacekeeping hinges on our collective commitment to continue to adapt and invest—so we can continue delivering hope and protection where it’s needed most.”

The International Day of UN Peacekeepers was established by the UN General Assembly in 2002 to pay tribute to all men and women serving in peacekeeping and to honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace.

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Department of Global Communications: Douglas Coffman: coffmand@un.org 1(917) 361-9923