Happy International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers

On May 29, the UN honors its 60th Annual International Peacekeeping Mission Day, which was established by the General Assembly under resolution 57/159. International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers recognizes “ all men and women who have served and continue to serve in UN Peacekeeping Operations. For their high level of professionalism and dedicated and courage, and to honor the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace.“ Currently, there are over 110,000 men and women that are serving in more than 20 Peacekeeping Missions. At the United Nations headquarters, wreathes were laid in memory of fallen peacekeepers who lost their lives while serving in United Nations peace keeping mission around the world. This year, 2,486 have been killed while on line of duty.

According to UN- Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon’s Special Message, he recognized Peacekeeping Operations for their significant progress in the past five decades. Since 1948, International Peacekeeping Operations established 63 Peacekeeping Operations. More than 130 countries have participated in Peacekeeping deployments, mainly from Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Jordan, Ghana, Uruguay, Italy, Nigeria, France, Senegal, Ethiopia, China, Morocco, Benin, Brazil, South Africa, Spain, Kenya, and Indonesia. UN Peacekeeping Forces consist of military observers, policeman, and civilian personnel. The Department of Peacekeeping Operations recruit civilians with various backgrounds since peacekeeping operations are responsible of restoring political systems, reforming judicial systems, and re-training the law enforcement.

Many countries have financially contributed to Peacekeeping Operations. Since the cold war, the Peacekeeping Costs have dramatically risen. Security Council members and additional UN members-states, Japan and Germany have maintained major financial contributions. Compared to other international peacekeeping forces, the UN Peacekeeping Operations is the largest multinational coalition, but maintains the cheapest budget. Last fiscal year, the UN spent up to 5.6% billion dollars.

Since the UN Peacekeeping has receive significant progress in participation and financial growth, peacekeeping operations has evolved into a stronger instrument in maintaining international peace and security. Most importantly, five decades of significant growth enable the UN to recruit more peacekeepers that are willing to sacrifice their lives. As a result, peacekeepers have been more equipped in meeting many challenges, such as maintaining ceasefires and border security, disarming former combatants, fostering reconciliation, facilitating the delivery of humanitarian assistance, helping refugees, and displacing people to return home and ensuring conditions for democratic elections, the rule of law, and reconstruction of economic recovery.