International Day of UN Peacekeepers 2021: History, significance of day to celebrate personnel

The United Nations has designated 29 May as the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. The day aims to celebrate the contributions of civilian and uniformed personnel who perform the task of peacekeeping for the organisation.

According to the official website, 130 UN peacekeepers lost their lives last year and 4,000 have died since 1948, when the UN peacekeeping mission began.

International Day of UN Peacekeepers History:

In 1948, the UN sent its first peacekeeping mission called the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) which started functioning in Palestine.

UNTSO started its operation in Palestine on 29 May. Therefore, this day was selected as the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.

The decision was taken at the UN General Assembly on 24 February, 2003 in its resolution 57/129.

International Day of UN Peacekeepers Significance:

The day has been established in order to recognise and honour the courage of UN Peacekeepers who could be military and police professionals or civilians. The day is also used as an opportunity by the UN Peacekeepers to strengthen their bond with the local people.

International Day of UN Peacekeepers 2021 Theme:

This year, while supporting the local communities, the peacekeepers also had to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The theme of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers 2021 is “The road to a lasting peace: Leveraging the power of youth for peace and security”.

Many of the UN peacekeepers are between the ages of 18 to 29 and the organisation is also increasingly collaborating with youth groups.

International Day of UN Peacekeepers Celebration:

Generally, the day is celebrated solemnly as the UN remembers the peacekeepers who lost their lives during the missions. On 27 May, at the UN headquarter in New York, Secretary-General António Guterres laid a wreath in honour of peacekeepers.