“Invest in Peace”

On the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, the United Arab Emirates paid tribute to nearly 50,000 peacekeepers serving under the United Nations flag in some of the world’s most difficult and dangerous environments.

The UAE reaffirmed its strong and lasting commitment to UN peacekeeping operations, highlighting its ongoing contributions through capacity-building initiatives. These include Arabic language training programmes and efforts to advance the Women, Peace and Security agenda, aimed at making peacekeeping missions more effective and inclusive.

The commemoration comes as the United Nations marks 80 years since its founding on the principle that peace is achievable. The organisation noted that while UN peacekeeping remains one of the most cost-effective tools for maintaining global stability, its success depends heavily on sustained political support and reliable financial backing.

Under this year’s theme, “Invest in Peace,” the UN has called for urgent global action, stressing that peace does not occur by chance but requires political will, consistent funding, and collective international commitment.

UN officials emphasised that investment in peacekeeping saves lives, helps prevent wider conflicts, reduces long-term humanitarian crises, and lowers global financial costs. Peacekeeping missions continue to protect civilians, reduce violence, monitor ceasefires, support political dialogue, enable humanitarian access, and address threats such as explosive hazards.

Currently, more than 50,000 civilian, military, and police personnel are deployed in complex missions worldwide. However, the organisation warned that decreasing resources are already affecting operational capacity, with direct consequences for both local populations and the safety of peacekeepers.

The International Day of UN Peacekeepers, observed annually on May 29, honours their service and sacrifice. This year, tribute was paid to more than 4,500 peacekeepers who lost their lives in the line of duty. Among them, 68 will be awarded the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal, including 59 who died in 2025 and nine from previous years.

The UN also recognised the contributions of women in peacekeeping through the Women Police of the Year Award and the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award, underscoring the importance of gender-responsive operations in modern peace missions.

As the global security landscape grows more complex, the message from this year’s observance remains clear: the world must invest in peace to sustain it.