International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers 2017 observed

29 May: International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers

The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers 2017 was observed on 29 May 2017 with the theme Investing in Peace around the world.

The Day offers a chance to pay tribute to the uniformed and civilians personnel’s invaluable contribution to the work of the Organization. The Day also honours more than 3500 peacekeepers who have lost their lives serving under the UN flag since 1948, including 117 in the year 2016.

While the official International Day of United Nations Peacekeeper’s Day is on 29 May, UN Headquarters in New York celebrated the day on 24 May 2017. On the occasion, the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal was awarded posthumously to the peacekeepers who fell while serving in the cause of peace. Two Indian peacekeepers, Brijesh Thapa and Ravi Kumar, were among the 117 military, police and civilian personnel who were honoured with the prestigious medal.

The day was established to

• Honour the memory of the UN peacekeepers who have lost their lives in the cause of peace.

• Pay tribute to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in UN peacekeeping operations for their high level of professionalism, dedication and courage.

Background

• The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers was so designated by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 57/129, on 11 December 2002.

• It was designated after an official request of the Ukrainian Peacekeepers Association and the Government of Ukraine to the UN General Assembly.

• The day was first celebrated in 2003.

• The date, May 29, marks the anniversary of the creation of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) in 1948 to monitor the ceasefire after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, which was the first ever UN peacekeeping mission.

• Theme for the year 2016 was Honouring Our Heroes.