The United Nations on Thursday, May 29, 2025, commemorated the International Day of UN Peacekeepers with a powerful tribute to the bravery, sacrifice, and enduring commitment of peacekeepers around the world. Held annually, the day honours more than one million personnel who have served under the UN flag and remembers the over 4,400 who have lost their lives in the line of duty—57 of them in 2024 alone.
At the UN Headquarters in New York, the occasion was marked with a poignant wreath-laying ceremony, solemn tributes, and an awards presentation that underscored the invaluable role of peacekeepers in today’s increasingly complex and volatile global environment.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in his address, described peacekeepers as “a lifeline to millions of people” caught in the crossfire of wars and instability. “They operate in some of the world’s most dangerous and politically complex environments, often with limited resources and under direct threat,” Guterres said.
He acknowledged the intensifying global challenges—including terrorism, disinformation campaigns targeting peacekeepers, transnational crime, and climate-induced conflict—that have added new dimensions to peacekeeping operations. “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,” he emphasized.
Guterres called on member states to increase financial, logistical, and operational support to ensure that missions remain effective, adaptable, and fit for the future.
Established in 1948, the first UN peacekeeping mission deployed to the Middle East to monitor the Arab-Israeli truce. Today, more than 68,000 civilian, military, and police personnel are deployed across 11 peacekeeping missions in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, addressing security, humanitarian, and governance crises.
In Lebanon, for example, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) continues to operate despite escalating hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. Spanish peacekeeper Lieutenant Colonel Agustín García, currently serving with UNIFIL, shared:
“It’s a very rewarding job. You’re not just there for security—you engage deeply with the communities, understand their culture, and help meet their needs.”
UNIFIL’s mandate, renewed under UN Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006), includes confirming Israeli withdrawal, supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces, and helping to rebuild vital infrastructure like schools and hospitals.
Similarly, peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and the Golan Heights Observer Force (UNDOF) operate in deteriorating political and security environments, striving daily to prevent violence and protect civilians.
At the UN Headquarters, 57 peacekeepers who died in 2024, along with one who perished in 1973, were posthumously awarded the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal, named after the second UN Secretary-General who died in a 1961 plane crash while on a peace mission.
The atmosphere shifted from solemn remembrance to celebration during the presentation of the UN’s top military and police awards to two exemplary female peacekeepers.
Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme of Ghana, serving in Abyei, received the 2024 UN Military Gender Advocate Award for promoting gender-sensitive peacekeeping practices.
Chief Superintendent Zainab Mbalu Gbla of Sierra Leone was named the Woman Police Officer of the Year, lauded for her leadership and impact in community policing.
These recognitions highlight the growing role of women in peacekeeping, a crucial step toward achieving the UN’s goals for gender equality and inclusive security.
Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, emphasized that despite overwhelming challenges, UN peacekeepers continue to “make a critical difference on the ground.”
He pointed to recent success stories, including the preservation of ceasefires and daily protection of hundreds of thousands of civilians, as evidence that peacekeeping remains a vital international partnership.
Speaking on the outcomes of the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Conference held in Berlin earlier this year, Lacroix revealed that more than 130 delegations pledged renewed support in the form of personnel contributions, specialised training, and investments in emerging technology.
“The main takeaway from Berlin is clear—member states still believe in peacekeeping. This gives us confidence and motivation to improve our effectiveness and adaptability,” Lacroix said.
As the nature of global conflict evolves, the UN is calling for innovative and integrated peacekeeping models. Experts stress the need for better equipment, cyber defense tools, cultural training, and community-focused strategies.
The future of peacekeeping, Guterres insists, depends not just on troop numbers but on “collective political will and global solidarity.”
On this International Day of UN Peacekeepers, the world is reminded of the cost of peace—and the brave men and women who bear that cost daily. From Lebanon to the Congo, Mali to South Sudan, their sacrifices reinforce a universal truth: peace is not passive—it is protected.