The International Day of United Nations (UN) Peacekeepers is observed globally every year on May 29 to honor the professionalism, dedication, and courage of personnel serving in UN peacekeeping operations and to commemorate those who lost their lives in the cause of peace.
- May 29, 2025, marks the 77th anniversary of the UN Peacekeeping mission, which began in 1948 with the deployment of military observers to the Middle East under the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO).
2025 Theme:
The theme for 2025, “The Future of Peacekeeping,” emphasizes the need for adaptive strategies to address contemporary challenges in peacekeeping missions.
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted resolution A/RES/57/129 in 2002, proclaiming May 29 as the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.
ii.The first UN peacekeeping mission, UNTSO, commenced operations in Palestine on May 29, 1948.
iii.The inaugural International Day of UN Peacekeepers was observed on May 29, 2003.
UN Peacekeeping Missions: An Overview
i.Since 1948, over 2 million uniformed and civilian personnel have served in 71 UN peacekeeping missions worldwide.
ii.Currently, more than 76,000 peacekeepers from over 120 countries are deployed in 11 active missions.
iii.India is the 4th largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping, with over 5,300 military and police personnel deployed in missions such as those in Abyei and the Central African Republic.
iv.The UN Peacekeeping budget has witnessed a substantial decline, dropping from USD 8.3 billion in 2015–2016 to USD 5.59 billion in 2024–2025, amidst ongoing calls for further budget reductions.
Note: Since 1948, over 4,430 militaries, police, and civilian personnel have lost their lives in UN peacekeeping missions due to violence, accidents, and disease.In 2024 alone, 26 peacekeepers died, including five in hostile incidents.
Global Campaign: “Peace Begins With Me”
i.Launched in 2023 to mark the 75th anniversary of UN Peacekeeping, the “Peace Begins With Me” campaign recognizes the service and sacrifice of UN peacekeepers and the resilience of the communities they serve.
ii.The campaign has received accolades, including a Gold Davey Award for ‘Social Campaigns and Series-Public Service and Activism’ and a Platinum Muse Creative Award for ‘Social Media-Community.’
UN Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025:
i.The UN Peacekeeping Ministerial, held from May 13 to 14, 2025, in Berlin, Germany, functioned as a high-level political forum to deliberate on the future of UN peacekeeping operations.
ii.74 UN member states made concrete pledges to address capability gaps, including military/police units, training, and technology
iii.The co-chairs of the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 process included Bangladesh, Canada, Ethiopia, Ghana, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Uruguay, United Kingdom, United States, and the United Nations Secretariat.
2025 Events:
i.On May 29, 2025, formal ceremonies were held at the UN Headquarters in New York, United States of America (USA) to commemorate the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.
ii.UN Secretary-General António Guterres laid a wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial to honour the memory of over 4,400 peacekeepers who have lost their lives in service since 1948.
- He also presented the Dag Hammarskjöld Medals posthumously to 57 militaries, police, and civilian peacekeepers who died in 2024, and the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.
Dag Hammarskjöld Medal
i.The Dag Hammarskjöld Medal was established in 1997 by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) through Resolution S/RES/1121(1997), marking the 50th anniversary of UN peacekeeping.
ii.This posthumous award serves as a solemn tribute to peacekeepers who lost their lives while serving under the operational control and authority of the United Nations in peacekeeping missions.
iii.In 2025, the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal was awarded posthumously to the 57 military, police, and civilian personnel who died in 2024.
iv.Two Indian peacekeepers, who lost their lives in 2024 while serving under the UN flag, were honoured with the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal.
- Brigadier General Amitabh Jha, who served as the Deputy Force Commander (DFC) of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Golan, Syria.
- Havildar Sanjay Singh, who was deployed with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
Other Awards:
i.Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme from Ghana received the 2025 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.
- This award, established in 2016, recognises outstanding efforts in promoting the principles of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.
iii.Superintendent Zainab Gbla of Sierra Leone was named 2025 UN Woman Police Officer of the Year, acknowledging her exemplary service and leadership in UN peace operations.
