Observed annually on the 29th of May, the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers is an international holiday designed to pay homage to those who serve and have served in UN peacekeeping operations. United Nations peacekeepers demonstrate a high level of courage, professionalism, and dedication as they work to help keep the world safe.

This is the perfect day to also remember those who have lost their lives while working on various UN peacekeeping operations over the years. This day has been officially observed for over 20 years and will continue to be observed as peacekeepers put their lives on the line to perform their duties.

The History of International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers

This international holiday was created by the United Nations with the passage of UN General Assembly Resolution 57/129 on the 11th of December in 2002. This resolution was passed following an official request from the Ukrainian Government and the Ukrainian Peacekeepers Association.

The date of this holiday was chosen because it marks the anniversary of the creation of the UN Truce Supervision Organization in 1948 to monitor the ceasefire after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War—the first-ever UN peacekeeping mission. This holiday was officially observed on May 29, 2003.

Observing International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers

On this day, the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal is presented at UN Headquarters in New York to military police, personnel, and civilians who lost their lives while serving in UN peacekeeping operations. This medal is named after Dag Hammarskjöld, the second Secretary-General of the UN, who perished in a plane crash in September of 1961.

All around the world, other events and seminars are also held to honor UN peacekeepers on this day. This can include laying wreaths at memorials dedicated to those who have died during peacekeeping missions, and presentations about past and present peacekeeping missions being undertaken by the UN.