INTERNATIONAL DAY OF UNITED NATIONS (UN) PEACEKEEPERS
May 29, 2016
2016 Theme: “Honouring Our Heroes
International Day of UN Peacekeepers is observed every year on May 29th 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.
*Since the first UN peacekeeping mission was established in 1948 until April 2016, 3,400 military, police and civilian personnel have lost their lives in the service of peace as a result of acts of violence, accidents and disease.
* Fifteen years ago, the UN had fewer than 40,000 Military and police personnel. Today, more than 105,000 uniformed personnel from 124 troop- and police-contributing countries serve under the UN flag, along with 18,000 international and national civilian staff and UN Volunteers. They courageously risk their lives in order to bring stability to some of the world’s most vulnerable populations
UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon’s message
“On this International Day of UN Peacekeepers, we honour our heroes – the more than one million men and women who have served under the UN flag with pride, distinction and courage since the first deployment in 1948. And we pay our highest tribute to the more than 3,400 peacekeepers who have lost their lives while in service during that period.”(www.un.org)
UN Peacekeepers are often referred to as Blue Helmets
Image credit: www.webpublicapress.net
