Here’s why you should care about UN Peacekeeping Day🇺🇳
29th May marks the 17th International Day of UN Peacekeepers which will remember nearly 4,000 peacekeepers who have fallen while serving on operations
On this day we pay tribute to all those often unsung heroes of Britain’s Army, Navy and Royal Air Force, past and present, who have donned the blue beret.
They are protecting civilians and creating the conditions for humanitarian efforts to succeed, and passing on their expertise to others by helping train some peacekeepers from across the globe.
Today we are proud that hundreds of British military personnel are upholding that commitment, across seven UN missions, from Cyprus to Sub-Saharan Africa.
Early this year the UK Armed Forces completed their most recent contribution to peacekeeping for the UK in South Sudan (Op TRENTON). After this successful four years of building hospitals, bridges and roads for the UN in the Sub-Saharan country, preparations are now underway for a new mission to Mali.
This year the UN shine light on the huge impact that Women have in peacekeeping.
Women make invaluable contributions to keeping the peace, with sometimes greater access to communities which are often closed to men. This helps to improve intelligence and knowledge about security risks and concerns — including sexual and gender-based violence.
UN Peacekeeping was born in 1948 when the Security Council authorized the deployment of UN military observers to the Middle East.
Since then, there have been more than 70 peacekeeping operations deployed by the UN. Over the years, hundreds of thousands of military personnel, as well as tens of thousands of UN police and other civilians from more than 120 countries have participated in UN peacekeeping operations.
United Nations Peacekeeping missions aim to help countries to navigate from conflict to peace by deploying troops, police and civilian peacekeepers from across the world to address mandates set by the UN security council and the General Assembly.
Our peacekeepers operate in some of the most dangerous and violent places on the planet, sacrificing their time to help countries become a safer and more stable place to live.
To remember the fallen, a wreath was laid at the Cenotaph in London, by former peacekeepers — Lt Col Steven ‘Nev’ Neville and Wg Cdr Catherine Davison.
2 years ago Wg Cdr Catherine Davison was deployed on Op TRENTON as Deputy Force Medical Officer.
Working as a doctor and medical planner in Juba, the small team was responsible for overseeing the UN military medical facilities and the patient care pathway for peacekeepers.
“The multinational working environment, the diversity of thought, views, cultures and experiences made this one of the best operational tours of my military career.
“And while women may still be in the minority on peacekeeping operations, I feel their positive impact is only growing.
“My gender had no impact on how I was perceived, treated or welcomed in role. Even my poor cricketing skills were accepted despite the high chance of an ‘out for a duck’. ”
Lt Col Steven ‘Nev’ Neville, was deployed on the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) as Staff Officer in the Force HQ Plans Branch.
As a Military Staff Officer in the Force HQ based in Bamako, Nev was responsible for strategic and operational-level planning, including the future of the UN’s mission in Mali.
“It was a privilege to have served on one of the UN’s most significant Peacekeeping operations, alongside over 16,500 other Military, Police and Civilian peacekeepers, drawn from over 50 different countries, many of whom have made international peace and security their life’s work.
“I am proud to have played a role and hope to have, in some small way, contributed to the future stability of Mali.”
On this day we take a minute to remember the 106 British Peacekeepers alongside their 3822 international counterparts who tragically did not return home while our thoughts go out to those they left behind.
Because of their selfless acts, they have helped make the world a safer and more stable place.
Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.
