International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers

  United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to preside over a wreath laying ceremony at the Peacekeepers' Memorial site in the North Lawn. For nearly 80 years, United Nations peacekeepers have delivered tangible change to communities worldwide. From Liberia and Namibia to Cambodia, Sierra Leone and Timor-Leste, their presence has been life-saving and transformative in some of the most volatile political and security contexts, guiding countries from conflict towards lasting peace. Observed under the theme "The Future of Peacekeeping" this year's International Day looks at the invaluable contributions military, police and civilian peacekeepers have made over the last nearly eight decades. It encapsulates the spirit of progress and collective action towards creating a more equal, just and sustainable world. Watch the (Tape feed) Wreath Laying Ceremony - International Day of UN Peacekeepers 2025! High-level Events

Dear Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, our generous hosts. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, My thanks to Germany for bringing us together at this consequential moment. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. Our organization was founded on the conviction that peace is possible if we work as one united human family. That is what our peace operations are about. From preventive diplomacy to peacekeeping… From negotiating ceasefires to helping to implement them… From electoral support and observer missions to de-mining operations and protection of civilians… To the focus of today’s Ministerial meeting — peacekeeping. Excellencies, UN Blue Helmets are the most globally recognized symbol of the world’s ability to come together to help countries move from conflict to peace. Peacekeepers hail from every corner of the world. But they are united in their commitment to peace. As we meet today, UN peacekeepers are hard at w...