Remarks by the Director-General of UNOG at Flag-Raising Ceremony to Mark International Day of UN Peacekeepers

Every year, we come together, with our friends from the Soldiers of Peace International Association, to pay tribute to the sacrifice and selflessness of courageous women and men who serve, or have served, in United Nations peacekeeping operations. Dedicated to helping their fellow human beings, often in dangerous and difficult circumstances far from family and friends, peacekeepers embody the values and principles of the United Nations. Today, we bow our heads before their bravery in the service of all humanity. With sadness and pride, we pay our deepest respects to those who have given their lives in the cause of peace and we vow to keep their memory alive.

Please join me in a minute of silence in their honour.

[Minute of silence]. Thank you.

On this day, 60 years ago, the first United Nations peacekeeping operation was authorized. Since then, over 1 million United Nations peacekeepers in 63 operations have given true meaning to the words of the United Nations Charter, “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”. In six decades of peacekeeping, over 2,400 peacekeepers have laid down their lives in the service of peace, while countless lives of fellow human beings have been saved because of their bravery.

In 1948, few could have imagined how far peacekeeping would evolve from its traditional role. Peacekeepers maintain ceasefires and monitor borders, disarm former combatants and foster reconciliation. They facilitate delivery of humanitarian assistance, help refugees and displaced persons to return, and ensure conditions for democratic elections, the rule of law, reconstruction and economic recovery. Indeed, United Nations peacekeeping has never been as large, complex or demanding as it is today, with over 110,000 military and civilian staff serving in 20 peace operations, across nine time zones.

Large-scale missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Darfur, Chad and the Central African Republic bring new levels of complexity and risk. We must rise to these challenges and respond to the needs of millions of fellow human beings, traumatized by conflict and violence. At the same time, we must not lose sight of the need to ensure long-term stability. If peacebuilding efforts flounder, the gains of peacekeeping are lost.
This day is also an occasion for expressing our gratitude to the 118 troop contributing countries, enabling their young men and women to serve in the frontlines of peace.

The United Nations expects the highest standards of integrity and professionalism of our peacekeepers, and we are committed to the policy of zero tolerance of sexual exploitation and abuse. Even one incident is one incident too many.

Wherever they go, the Blue Helmets bring more than assistance; they bring hope for a future free of fear for some of our most vulnerable fellow human beings. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that they can fulfil these expectations. We must make sure that peacekeepers have clear, robust mandates, adequate resources and sufficient equipment, and are able to deploy rapidly and effectively. In a world where the blue flag of the United Nations no longer affords protection against deliberate attacks, it is our solemn obligation to provide security to those colleagues working in the field for the Organization and for Member States.

Every day, around the world, peacekeepers make the difference between war and peace. Their determination and sense of duty to others humble us. Their commitment and courage inspire us. Today, we honour them and pledge our unwavering support for them to fulfil their noble mission: making peace a reality. Millions of people owe them their lives; we all owe them an eternal debt of gratitude.