International holidays - International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers

The observance of the truce in the hot spots of the planet is monitored by a special contingent of military and civilians Russian peacekeepers prevented conflicts from flaring up again in Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Angola and other countries Representatives of UN member countries carried out humanitarian missions and operations to prevent threats and maintain peace in Colombia and the Republic of Chad, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Congo and Burundi, Cyprus and Haiti May 29 marks the International Day of UN Peacekeepers The celebration of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers has been held annually since 2003 and each time under new slogans The theme of Peacekeepers' Day in 2021 was "The Road to Lasting Peace: Harnessing the Power of Youth to Ensure Peace and Security", in 2022 - "People Peace Progress The Power of Partnership" The date of the holiday of the “blue helmets” (or “blue berets” as the armed contingent of the UN member states is called) was not chosen by chance On May 29, 1948, the first peacekeeping operation took place to comply with the terms of the truce in Israel and Palestine During its existence, a special contingent, represented mainly by infantry soldiers, took part in more than 70 missions in hot spots of the planet Peacekeepers are not only military personnel who ensure compliance with the agreements reached by the warring parties: on the delivery of humanitarian aid, a temporary truce, the exchange of prisoners, etc The contingent also includes doctors, police officers, engineers, teachers and representatives of other professions The symbol of peacekeepers is bright blue berets or helmets They are marked with the letters "UN" (an abbreviation of the name UN in English - United Nations) Today, the contingent that helps end military conflicts to protect civilians includes representatives from 124 countries The activities of peacekeepers involve risks to their lives, but both men and women undertake this risk and undergo serious training before being sent to their duty station International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers is a tribute to the memory of more than 4 thousand who died in the line of duty under the UN flag Every year, deceased peacekeepers are posthumously awarded the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal The UN Secretary-General, after whom it is named, died in 1961 in a plane crash in Northern Rhodesia The design of the medal was approved in 1997 at a meeting of the Security Council on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the existence of peacekeepers In 2014, another award was established It was the medal "For Exceptional Courage" named after Captain Mbaye Diagne, who saved many civilians during the genocide in Rwanda in 1994 On May 29, in honor of the holiday, a wreath-laying ceremony is held at the UN headquarters in memory of the fallen peacekeepers and other events aimed at strengthening ties with the population that the military personnel protect In 1988, a special UN contingent was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize The risks and threats faced by its representatives are becoming more serious every year But this does not stop the peacekeepers, who realize the importance of their mission Their activities and life position admire their dedication and self-sacrifice Therefore, every year on May 29, the International Day of UN Peacekeepers is widely celebrated