On the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members (25 March), we pay tribute to the brave men and women who have lost their lives in the service of the United Nations. To protect UN staff, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated personnel on 9 December 1994. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on all countries to fully implement the 1994 Convention and its 2005 Optional Protocol. Since 2022, 381 UN personnel have been detained. In total, 27 UN personnel are still in detention.

On September 21, we commemorate the International Day of Peace. Today, as the world faces the largest number of conflicts since World War II, UN Peacekeeping is calling for collective action towards sustainable peace.

Premiering September 14, 2023, the "Peace Begins With Me" multimedia poem showcases a creative collaboration between Congolese peacekeeper and musician Pacifique Akilimali and Nigerian peace advocate and poet Maryam Bukar Hassan. See Michael Douglas, Nancy Ajram & others as they join UN Peacekeeping in the fight for peace. Join the peacekeeping campaign!

Women police officers play a crucial role across the full spectrum of policing, from crime prevention to criminal investigations, the protection of human rights, and safety and security. Evidence shows that their full, equal and meaningful participation in all policing functions is vital to achieving more effective, efficient and accountable services. On this inaugural commemoration of the International Day of Police Cooperation (7 September), the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Policing, together with INTERPOL, highlights the vital role of women in policing.

Celebrating women peacekeepers

As peacekeeping has evolved throughout the years, women have been increasingly deployed in police, military, and civilian operations. Their heightened representation continues to have a tangible impact on peacekeeping environments. This year marks the 75th anniversary of UN Peacekeeping which honors all uniformed and civilian individuals who have served and continue to serve in UN peacekeeping operations around the world for their valuable contributions to peace. UNWOMEN celebrates the contributions of women peacekeepers

International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers (29 May) is a day to pay tribute to UN peacekeepers and this year, it also marks the 75th anniversary of United Nations Peacekeeping. For 75 years, UN peacekeepers have worked to save and change lives in the world’s most fragile political and security situations. This year’s observance “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. Peace begins with all of us! Join the campaign online by using #PeaceBegins and #PK75.

The absence of justice directly fuels conflict. Lack of justice, be it actual or perceived, causes resentment and conflict at both the individual and societal levels. United Nations peace operations that provide support to national justice and security institutions are governed by UN Security Council resolutions. The overall objective remains to strengthen national capacities; extend the authority of the State; and enhance the effectiveness and inclusiveness of justice and security institutions as well as confidence in those institutions, with a view to preventing violence, fighting impunity and sustaining peace. 

Peacekeepers are ordinary people, working in dangerous and strenuous conditions to achieve extraordinary outcomes. They help prevent conflict, protect civilians, advance political solutions, and support democratic processes. For 75 years, UN peacekeeping has made a tangible difference in the lives of millions of people caught up in catastrophic conflict. Despite the challenges, peacekeepers persevere, alongside many partners, in the collective pursuit of peace.

If you look at the data, UN peacekeeping missions succeed most of the time. They significantly reduce civilian casualties, shorten conflicts, and help make peace agreements stick. In two thirds of completed missions since the Cold War, UN peacekeepers succeeded in fulfilling their mandate. Professor Lise Howard of Georgetown University leads us through the data and the history of UN peacekeeping.

At a roundtable discussion on Women, Peace and Security in Peacekeeping, Secretary-General António Guterres made a rallying call to partners to summon the political will and recommit to women as key agents of peace. In the presence of four women leaders from Mali, Central African Republic, Darfur and Cyprus, the Secretary-General heard about the progress and remaining challenges in a number of key areas including women’s participation in peace processes and conflict resolution, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women and ensuring women’s voices as voters and candidates in elections.

“Sometimes it can be very overwhelming, you really feel for the people and the suffering that they're going through.”

Unaisi Vuniwaqa has witnessed terrible suffering. As the Assistant Secretary-General for Safety and Security, she has worked as a UN peacekeeper in some of the world’s most dangerous places.

What does it take to stay calm in the crossfire? Peacekeepers have one of the toughest roles in the United Nations. Serving in brutal conflicts, such as that in South Sudan, can mean drawing on all their reserves of courage and ingenuity. In this episode, Unaisi Vuniwaqa reflects on what it takes to keep a cool head while in mortal danger and on maintaining the safety of UN staff and peacekeepers around the world.

Photo: ©UN Photo/Evan Schneider

Major Winnet Zharare is the first Zimbabwean to receive the prestigious UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for her outstanding efforts to integrate gender perspectives into peacekeeping.

Salila Abdulai Wani is 1 of 37 women UNMAS deminers working with the UN mission in South Sudan, out of a total of 338 deminers. They are clearing sites of explosive ordnance so that others can have safe passage. Follow Salila's movements throughout a typical day in her life. The threat of explosive ordnance affects the daily life of communities, the mobility of peacekeepers and the delivery of humanitarian aid. Since the inception of UNMAS South Sudan in 2004, more than 1.2 million explosive ordnance have been destroyed. Join us in celebrating the International Day of UN Peacekeepers 2022.

Peacekeeping has helped save lives and bring peace and stability to many countries over the decades. But UN peacekeeping cannot succeed on its own to end conflict and secure lasting political solutions. Partnerships are fundamental to bringing tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary people. The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers (29 May) offers a chance to pay tribute to uniformed and civilian personnel. On this day, we also honour the nearly 4,200 peacekeepers who have lost their lives serving under the UN flag since 1948, including 135 last year.

On the divided island of Cyprus, Hande and Flora may not have met if it wasn't for a weaving project facilitated by the UN mission in Cyprus, which brought together the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities. Here’s the story of how they went from strangers to friends. UN Peacekeeping has been working towards a political settlement in Cyprus since 1964. UNFICYP continues to supervise ceasefire lines, to maintain a buffer zone, to undertake humanitarian activities and to support the good offices mission of the Secretary-General.

Young people are essential in promoting peace and security around the world. UN peacekeeping operations amplify the voices of the youth and ensure that they are included in planning and decision-making. They support young people in overcoming challenges, promoting gender equality and advancing progress. This year, the International Day of UN Peacekeepers (29 May) focuses on youth, peace and security. Young people are promoting peace and security – and UN peacekeeping is having an impact on the next generation.