Mr. Guterres started the day by laying a wreath on the Peacekeepers Memorial Web site on the grounds of UN Headquarters in New York in honour of the greater than 4,300 “Blue Helmets” who misplaced their lives over the Group’s practically 80-year historical past.
Later, at a ceremony within the Trusteeship Council Chamber, he referred to as for a minute of silence to recollect the navy, police, civilian personnel and nationwide workers who’ve paid the final word value.
“The reminiscence of our fallen Blue Helmets reminds us of the tragic human price of battle,” he said.
“Every loss underscores the pressing want to forestall violence, defend essentially the most weak, and spare no effort to finish these lethal conflicts.”
‘We’ll always remember them’
Final yr, 61 peacekeepers from 33 nations died in service.
Their households have acquired Dag Hammarskjöld medals, named after the second UN Secretary-Basic, who died in a aircraft crash in September 1961 in what’s now Zambia.
“We share our deepest sympathies with the households and buddies,” stated Mr. Guterres. “We’ll always remember them.”
The UN chief famous that the world goes by means of a troublesome and harmful time, with the worldwide group deeply divided, and UN peacekeepers are extra essential than ever.
Assist UN peacekeepers
Greater than 76,000 ladies and men from 121 nations are presently deployed in 11 operations worldwide.
“Peacekeepers are sometimes engaged in nations or areas the place there isn’t any peace to maintain,” he stated.
“Regardless of direct assaults by armed teams, harsh working environments and the emergence of recent weapons of battle, together with digital expertise and synthetic intelligence, our peacekeepers persevere. And we should help them.”
Gender Advocate Award
Mr. Guterres additionally introduced the 2023 UN Navy Gender Advocate of the Yr Award to Main Radhika Sen, an Indian peacekeeper who served within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Main Sen was deployed in japanese DRC with the UN peacekeeping mission within the nation, MONUSCO, because the Commander of the Indian contingent’s engagement platoon.
Take heed to our interview with Main Sen:
She led the unit on numerous patrols at a time of escalating battle in North Kivu province.
Main Sen helped to create group networks, offering a protected platform for girls to share their concepts and issues in order that the UN Mission may higher reply to their wants.
The Secretary-Basic referred to as Main Sen “a real chief and position mannequin”, including that “her service is a real credit score to the United Nations as an entire.”
The wreath laying and ceremony had been held to mark the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, commemorated yearly on 29 Could.