International Day of UN Peacekeepers 2020

International Day of UN Peacekeepers is observed on 29 May every year to offer a chance to pay tribute to the uniformed and civilian personnel’s invaluable contribution to the work of the Organization.

The day also aims to honour more than 3,900 peacekeepers who have lost their lives serving under the UN flag since 1948.

The theme for 2020 International Day of UN Peacekeepers is “Women in Peacekeeping: A Key to Peace”. The theme has been chosen by the United Nations as it commemorates the 20th anniversary of Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.

International Day of UN Peacekeepers is adopted by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in its resolution 57/129.

The first UN peacekeeping mission was established on 29 May 1948, when the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) authorized the deployment of a small number of UN military observers to the Middle East.

These observers formed the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) to monitor the Armistice Agreement between Israel and its Arab neighbors. The day was initiated to pay tribute to the 3700 uniformed and civilian personnel who lost their lives upholding peace.