The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, commemorated every year on 29th of May, is “an international day to honour the life of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace and to paid homage to all the people who have served and continue serving in United Nations peacekeeping operations for their utmost professionalism, dedication, and courage.”
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History of International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
It was first commemorated in the year of 2003 after a resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly on 11th December, 2002, in response to an official request from the Ukrainian Peacekeepers Association as well as the Government of Ukraine to the UNGA (United Nations General Assembly). The United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) was established on this date in the year of 1948 to oversee the ceasefire following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and it was the first ever UN peacekeeping deployment.
Significance
The International Day of UN Peacekeepers was established by the United Nations General Assembly on 29th May. The first UN peacekeeping force, the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO), began operations in the Middle East on this date in the year of 1948.
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India’s contribution to UN peacekeeping
India is a major contributor to UN peacekeeping operations. While serving in UN operations, Indian peacekeepers have sacrificed the ultimate sacrifice. It presently sends over 5,000 security troops to UN peacekeeping missions in Abyei, Cyprus, Congo, Lebanon, the Middle East, Sudan, South Sudan, and Western Sahara, as well as an expert to the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).
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