International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers

Opening Segment Plenary Segment Remarks by H.E. Philemon Yang, President of the General Assembly for its 79th session. Remarks by H.E. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations. Remarks by H.E. Bankole Adeoye, African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (tbc) Remarks by H.E. Antje Leendertse, Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission. Remarks by Dr. Emma Birikorang, Director of Research, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC). This high-level thematic debate, in cooperation with the African Union, aims to discuss the multifaceted aspects of peace and security in Africa and the future of peacekeeping operations, emphasizing the role of United Nations funded African Union-led peace operations and their potential contributions to the maintenance of international peace and security. 18 months after its adoption in December 2023 and ahead of the mandated implementation review in December 2026, the debate aims to take stock...

The Secretary-General will host the Annual Memorial Service to honour all United Nations personnel who lost their lives in the service of peace from 01 January to 31 December 2024. Since 2011, the Secretary-General has instituted an Annual Memorial Service at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, to pay tribute and honour the memory of all United Nations personnel who tragically lost their lives in its service during the course of the previous year. Watch the 2025 Secretary-General's Annual Memorial Service!

Full Remarks: This morning, the United Nations family will come together to pay tribute to 168 of our colleagues who lost their lives in 2024 . It is always an intimate ceremony, shared with families of the fallen. But I believe this occasion also calls for a more public reflection.The women and men we honour today were not just names on a list.They were extraordinary individuals -- each one a story of courage, compassion, and service.They were driven by the pursuit of peace . By the urgency to ease human suffering. And by the conviction that every person, everywhere, deserves dignity and protection. This past year has been especially devastating in Gaza.Today's ceremony includes recognition of 126 of our colleagues killed there -- 125 of them serving with UNRWA. More than one in every 50 UNRWA staff in Gaza has been killed in this atrocious conflict. This is the highest staff death toll in United Nations history.Some were killed delivering life-saving aid; others alongside their ...

On the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers , officially celebrated on 29 May of each year, we promote the tangible impact of peacekeeping and pay tribute to the dedication, professionalism, and courage of personnel who serve in missions around the world.  It is also a moment to reflect on the sacrifice made by peacekeepers who have lost their lives serving the cause of peace under the UN flag over the past 76 years. This year's theme, " The Future of Peacekeeping ", reflects the evolving nature of peace operations in a complex and rapidly changing world. The UN is actively working to modernize and adapt missions for the challenges of the future. Programme 4.00 p.m.: United Nations flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremony at the United Nations Memorial with the representatives of the United Nations Office at Geneva, of the Permanent Missions, and of the International Association of Peacekeepers and observance of a minute of silence   Speech by Ms. Tatiana Valov...

   The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to preside over Dag Hammarskjold medal, UN Woman Police Officer and UN Military Gender Advocates of the Year ceremony. To mark the International Day of UN Peacekeepers at UN Headquarters, the UN Secretary-General will preside over an in-person ceremony at which the Dag Hammarskjold Medal will be awarded posthumously to fallen peacekeepers. He will also present the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year award and the UN Woman Police Officer of the Year awards. For 77 years, United Nations peacekeepers have worked to protect people, preserve peace, and provide hope in the world's most fragile political and security situations. Since 1948, more than two million uniformed and civilian personnel have helped countries to transition from war to peace. Today, more than 68,000 peacekeepers serve in 11 missions deployed in hotspots around the world. Observed under the theme " The Future of Peacekeeping " this year's In...

  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

With unwavering courage, United Nations peacekeepers step into danger – to help protect those who need protection, preserve peace, and restore hope in some of the world’s most challenging contexts. Today, we honour their service. We draw inspiration from their resilience, dedication and courage. And we remember all the brave women and men who made the ultimate sacrifice for peace. More than 4,400 peacekeepers have died in service – 57 last year alone. We will never forget them – and we will carry their work forward. The focus of this year’s International Day of Peacekeepers is on “the future of peacekeeping”. Today, peacekeepers face increasingly complex situations in an increasingly complex world: Growing polarization and division around the globe … Operations made even more dangerous from a multiplicity of threats such as terrorism… Targeting of peacekeepers through deadly misinformation… And challenges that transcend borders – from the climate crisis to transnational crime. As we lo...