29 May is the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. UN offices, alongside Member States and non-governmental organizations, hold solemn events to honour fallen peacekeepers.

At the UN Headquarters in New York, the Secretary-General presides over a wreath-laying ceremony in honour of all peacekeepers who lost their lives while serving under the UN flag. In addition, the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal is awarded posthumously to the peacekeepers who have fallen while serving in the cause of peace, during the preceding year.

Since the first UN Peacekeeping mission was established in 1948, more than 2,900 military, police and civilian personnel have lost their lives in the service of peace as a result of acts of violence, accidents and disease.

The day has two purposes:

• to honour the memory of the UN peacekeepers who have lost their lives in the cause of peace; 
• to pay tribute to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in UN Peacekeeping operations for their high level of professionalism, dedication and courage.

More information on Peacekeepers Day can be found on a number of websites and Social Media channels.

On Twitter:

@UNPeacekeeping
The official twitter account of United Nations Peacekeeping.

@MONUSCO
MONUSCO - United Nations Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo
http://www.monusco.org

@MINUSTAHMedi
United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti
http://www.minustah.org

@UN_AUinDarfu
United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). At the heart of its mandate is the protection of civilians.
http://unamid.unmissions.org

@ONUCINF
L’ONUCI contribue à la protection des populations, la sécurisation de l’hôtel du Golf et la sauvegarde des résultats de l’élection présidentielle du 28 novembre
http://www.onuci.org

On Facebook:

UN Peacekeeping

DPKO Support Page for UN Staff in Haiti

UNAMA News Centre

UNIFIL-PIO

AU – UN Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)

United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT)

UNMIK - Division of Public Information

UN Mission in Haiti

VideoUnit Minustah

 

On Youtube:

These are a great set of clips about the work of UN Peacekeeping featuring USG Le Roy, USG Malcorra, the Secretary-General and many other senior DPKO and DFS personnel. The films are short (just a few minutes) and give a great overview of their work:

Part 1 - What is Peacekeeping?
http://www.youtube.com/user/unitednations#p/c/49CE20981558F582/6/40EihLq1aAo

Part 2 - Peacekeeping in Action: Haiti, A Special Report  
http://www.youtube.com/user/unitednations#p/c/49CE20981558F582/7/1SbLP-NMznE

Part 3 - Challenges of Peacekeeping
http://www.youtube.com/user/unitednations#p/c/49CE20981558F582/8/coE5PzJG6y0

Part 4 - Why Peacekeeping?
http://www.youtube.com/user/unitednations#p/c/49CE20981558F582/9/MGkt6WBqw24

Part 5 - Haiti Update 2010
http://www.youtube.com/user/unitednations#p/c/49CE20981558F582/10/Tvh8Liur1ck