Mr. Guterres started the day by laying a wreath on the Peacekeepers Memorial Website 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 almost 80-year historical past.
Later, at a ceremony within the Trusteeship Council Chamber, he known as for a minute of silence to recollect the navy, police, civilian personnel and nationwide employees who’ve paid the last 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 stop violence, shield probably 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-Normal, 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 way of a tough and harmful time, with the worldwide neighborhood deeply divided, and UN peacekeepers are extra necessary than ever.
Assist UN peacekeepers
Greater than 76,000 men and women from 121 nations are presently deployed in 11 operations worldwide.
“Peacekeepers are sometimes engaged in nations or areas the place there isn’t a peace to maintain,” he stated.
“Regardless of direct assaults by armed teams, harsh working environments and the emergence of latest weapons of battle, together with digital know-how and synthetic intelligence, our peacekeepers persevere. And we should assist 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 jap DRC with the UN peacekeeping mission within the nation, MONUSCO, because the Commander of the Indian contingent’s engagement platoon.
Hearken 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 neighborhood networks, offering a protected platform for girls to share their concepts and considerations in order that the UN Mission may higher reply to their wants.
The Secretary-Normal known as Main Sen “a real chief and function mannequin”, including that “her service is a real credit score to the United Nations as a complete.”
The wreath laying and ceremony had been held to mark the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, commemorated yearly on 29 Might.
UN Picture/Rick Bajornas
Secretary-Normal António Guterres (proper) greets Main Radhika Sen, recipient of the 2023 UN Navy Gender Advocate of the Yr Award.
