Hug a Peacekeeper

by Michelle . · 2009-05-28 17:23:00 UTC
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Friday, May 29 is International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, first established by the UN in 2002 "to pay tribute to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in United Nations peacekeeping operations for their high level of professionalism, dedication and courage, and to honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace."

Over 115,000 uniformed and civilian personnel from 117 countries serve in 18 UN peacekeeping and political/peacebuilding operations. Since 1948, 2,588 have lost their lives during their service, including 27 so far this year.

Peacekeeping missions have not been without controversy, but the global commitment demonstrated by the deployment of multi-national peacekeeping forces on civilian protection missions in the world's most challenging environments is, in its essence, truly noble. Peacekeepers are thrown into highly charged situations, assigned overwhelming mandates but not given sufficient resources, but still manage to bring at least some level of protection to civilians sorely in need.

So does the Peacekeeping Fairy leave something special in the blue helmets?

(Many thanks to Martha, for the heads up.)

Michelle . has been involved in various activist endeavors, including the Teach Against Genocide pilot campaigns.
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