International Day of UN Peacekeepers 2023

On 30 May, UNGSC Brindisi marked the 75th anniversary of Peacekeeping.

“World peace begins with the thoughts and actions of every individual,” noted Giovanna Ceglie, Director of the United Nations Global Service Centre (UNGSC), at the High-level ceremony commemorating the International Day of UN Peacekeepers and the 75th anniversary of Peacekeeping.

Reminding that UNGSC works to support 75,000 peacekeepers worldwide, Ms. Ceglie called on the 300 students coming from local high schools and univerisities attending the special event to recognize their “value as peace ambassadors” and to become part of the future of UN peacekeeping.

Jaspher Ombati, on behalf of Chief of the UN Standing Police Capacity, paid tribute to the over 4,200 peacekeepers who have “given their lives under the UN flag,” and honoured the “resilience of the communities who continue to strive for peace despite many obstacles.”

 

 

 

During the day the UN Maps team was present, welcoming visitors at a dedicated booth and showcasing the contributions that the UN Mappers community has brought so far to peacekeeping forces in Africa. The mapping contributions of our volunteers did not go unnoticed and aroused admiration from the militaries military and humanitarian actors present at the event. Students asked questions about the operations of the peacekeepers on the field and how we come together to support their activities through volunteered geospatial information and capacity building of academic and local communities, and how they can take part to the community.

The theme of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers 2023 is « Peace begins with me ». This campaign also calls on each of us to join the global movement for peace. Alone, we can never succeed. But, together, we can be a strong force for change.