International Day of UN Peacekeepers

The International Day of UN Peacekeepers is an annual celebration of the achievements and sacrifices made by UN Peacekeepers around the world. This year, as we mark the 75th birthday of the UN Peacekeepers, we must also highlight their role in Europe, and particularly in Ukraine. The commitment of the UN Peacekeepers towards stability and humanitarian efforts has had a profound effect on the region.

The UN Day of Peacekeepers was established through an official joint request by the Ukrainian Peacekeeping Association and the Ukrainian government. The Ukrainian origin of the UN Day of Peacekeeping holds particular relevance this year, as Ukraine’s ongoing struggle against Russian aggression serves as a poignant reminder of the crucial role of peace and peacekeeping operations. In 2014, the Peacekeepers deployed to Ukraine in conjunction with the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission.

Throughout the duration of the Peacekeeper deployment in Ukraine, Ukraine faced immense challenges, including political unrest, armed conflict, and humanitarian crises. The Peacekeepers in Ukraine were instrumental in facilitating dialogue, promoting peaceful resolution, and supporting efforts to mitigate violence. In the context of the invasion of Eastern Ukraine, the UN Peacekeepers had also been working to alleviate the human suffering incurred by repeated Russian violations of international human rights law.

Unfortunately, after Russian opposition towards an extension of its mandate, the Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine closed in conjunction with the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, marking the departure of UN Peacekeeping forces from Ukraine. The European community has not completely abandoned Ukraine, with the European Union Advisory Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine) remaining in place. EUAM has reformed its mission since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, working to investigate and prosecute crimes committed by the invading Russians. More international presence, however, is needed.

The International Day of UN Peacekeepers holds a special significance in Europe, where the ongoing presence of Peacekeepers has helped play a crucial role in fostering peaceful conflict resolution and in maintaining stability. The Peacekeepers have had a strong successful record in implementing peace and maintaining it. In countries such as Kosovo or Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Peacekeepers have had remarkable success with implementing peace agreements and maintaining a lasting peace afterward. Time and time again, studies have shown that UN Peacekeeping is successful when planned and applied correctly. It is important to celebrate the 75 years of astonishing achievements by UN Peacekeepers across the world.

This year’s commemoration of the Peacekeeper’s day will kick off at the UN Headquarters in New York, where the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal will be posthumously presented to UN personnel who have lost their lives as Peacekeepers. It will be followed by statements by the President of the General Assembly and the UN Secretary-General, as well as press releases. Around the world, countries will celebrate their own peacekeepers, and the UN will also organize festivals and memorials in cooperation with local groups and governments. The UN has established the campaign “Peace Begins with Me” to commemorate the day. The celebration has already begun with an interactive art installation in Times Square by “Inside Out” and a photo exhibit in the Visitor’s Lobby of the UN tracing 75 years of Peacekeeping achievement.

Author: Sergey Shkolnikov, US Youth Ambassador

Photo: UN DPO