UN Peacekeepers’ Day

United Nations peacekeepers are the beating heart of our commitment to a more peaceful world. For 75 years, they have supported people and communities rocked by conflict and upheaval across the globe.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres

As per the UN records, since 1948, more than two million uniformed and civilian personnel have helped countries to transition from war to peace. These peacekeepers work with the local communities in conflict areas and help advance political solutions, prevent conflict, protect civilians, strengthen human rights and the rule of law, and build sustainable peace. The role of UN peacekeepers is crucial for maintaining international peace and security. It envisages conflict prevention from escalating and mitigation of tensions between conflicting parties. They monitor and report on potential sources of conflict, provide early warning signals, and engage in diplomatic efforts to facilitate peaceful resolutions. The peacekeepers are deployed to regions affected by armed conflicts or post-conflict situations. They help create a secure environment, protect civilians, facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, and support the implementation of peace agreements. Most importantly, protecting civilians has emerged as a core responsibility of UN peacekeepers. They provide a physical presence and create a sense of security, which can deter attacks on civilians. Peacekeepers also work to prevent sexual and gender-based violence, protect vulnerable groups, and assist in the disarmament and demobilization of combatants.

The UN Peacekeepers Day allows everyone to look at the challenges faced by them, which are ever becoming more complex and lethal. Increased global tensions, more complex conflicts, and a proliferation of misinformation and disinformation, threatens their safety. Despite these obstacles, peacekeepers persevere, alongside many partners, in the collective pursuit of peace. Peacekeepers need a safe environment to work towards protection of civilians and nation-building. To do that many lose their lives, with no follow up on the perpetrators of such violence. The UN is taking steps in this direction for the past few years. The theme of the 75th anniversary “Peace begins with me” recognizes the service and sacrifice of peacekeepers, past and present, including more than 4200 who have given their lives under the UN flag. It also pays tribute to the resilience of the communities that we serve, who continue to strive for peace despite many obstacles.

The General Assembly, in its resolution 57/129, designated 29 May as the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. This is the date when in 1948 the first UN peacekeeping mission named the “United Nations Truce Supervision Organization”, or UNTSO, began operations in Palestine. On this day, we pay tribute to the professionalism, dedication and courage of all the men and women serving in UN peacekeeping operations, and honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace. The UN Peacekeepers are vital for promoting international peace and security, protecting civilians, supporting conflict resolution, and upholding humanitarian principles. Their presence and actions contribute to the overall stability, development, and well-being of conflict-affected regions, serving as a powerful symbol of international solidarity and commitment to peace.

 

USI – UN CELL

The USI has played a stellar role in the furtherance of India’s UN Peace Keeping (UNPK) endeavours. The Centre for UNPK (CUNPK) was established and nurtured at the USI, with support from MEA and Armed Forces, to become a regional node for excellence in the UNPK capacity building and practicing UN diplomacy. Today CUNPK has grown to become a full-fledged unit of the Indian Army and focuses on training and tactical issues related to UNPK.

The USI now focusing on the operational, strategic and policy issues related to UNPK. The USI has taken the lead in providing the platform for organising discourses and research in the field of UN peace operations to put across an Indian perspective on a few most crucial attributes of the current challenges that face reform of the UN peace operations.