The United Nations(UN)’s International Day of UN Peacekeepers is annually observed across the globe on 29th May to pay tribute to the uniformed and civilian personnel contribution towards the UN and to honour the peacekeepers who lost their lives in the line of service to the UN since 1948.
The theme of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers 2021 is “The road to a lasting peace: Leveraging the power of youth for peace and security.”
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/57/129 in 2002 and proclaimed the 29th of May as the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.
ii.The first International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers was observed on 29th May 2003.
iii.The year 2003 marked the 55th anniversary of the United Nations Peacekeeping.
Why May 29?
29th May marks the first UN peacekeeping mission named the “United Nations Truce Supervision Organization”(UNTSO) in 1948 which began operation in Palestine.
Awards:
Dag Hammarskjöld Medal Awards:
3 Indian peacekeepers – Corporal Yuvraj Singh who served with United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and 2 civilian peacekeepers Ivan Michael Picardo (UNMISS) and Mulchand Yadav (UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI)) – were honoured with the Dag Hammarskjold Medal during the virtual ceremony on the occasion of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.
List of Dag Hammarskjöld Medal Awards 2021
About Dag Hammarskjöld Medal Awards:
i.The security council established the United Nations Dag Hammarskjöld Medal, in 1997, as a posthumous award to members of peacekeeping operations.
ii.The first Dag Hammarskjöld Medal Awards were presented to the family of Dag Hammarskjöld in 1998.
Military Gender Advocate of the Year award:
The Military Gender Advocate of the Year award will also be presented at the virtual ceremony.
