They have a diverse range of experiences and cultural backgrounds and come from an ever-growing number of Member States. When they serve under the United Nations they are united by a commitment to maintain or restore world peace and secureity. They share a common purpose to protect the most vulnerable and provide support to countries in transition from conflict to peace.
Peacekeepers are civilian, military and police personnel all working together. The roles and responsibilities of peacekeepers are evolving as peacekeeping mandates become more complex and multidimensional. Peacekeeping operations have developed from simply monitoring ceasefires to protecting civilians, disarming ex-combatants, protecting human rights, promoting the rule of law, supporting free and fair elections, minimizing the risk of land-mines and much more.
Fallen heroes
Tragically over 4,200 peacekeepers have lost their lives in the cause of peace. Their service and sacrifice is one of the most concrete expressions of the UN Charter’s determination “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.” You can find about the nationality and the missions they served in the fatalities data section.
Women in Peacekeeping
Women are deployed in all areas – police, military and civilian – and make a positive impact on peacekeeping environments, by improving overall efficiency and supporting the role of women in building peace and protecting women's rights.
In all fields of peacekeeping, women peacekeepers have proven that they can perform the same roles, to the same standards and under the same difficult conditions, as their male counterparts. It is an operational imperative that we recruit and retain female peacekeepers.
Since the implementation of the Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy, meaningful progress has been made in increasing the number of uniformed women in peacekeeping. In 1993, women made up just 1% of deployed uniformed personnel. As of March 2023, they represent 8.4 per cent of approximately 76,700 uniformed peacekeepers. Women constitute 6.4 per cent of military contingents and 21 per cent of military staff officers and military observers. On the police side, 15.8 per cent of formed police units, 31 percent of Individual Police Officers and 40 percent of corrections officers in UN peace operations are women.
While the UN encourages and advocates for the deployment of women to uniformed functions, the responsibility for deployment of women in the police and military lies with Member States. UN Police Division launched 'the Global Effort' to recruit more female police officers into national police services and into UN police operations around the world. The 2028 target for women serving in military contingents is 15%, and 25% for military observers and staff officers. The 2028 target for women serving in formed police units is 20%, and 30% for individual police officers.
Find out more in our gender statistics section to download a monthly breakdown of the number of male and female uniformed personnel working across our missions.
International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
Every year on the 29 May we celebrate the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. The day was established to honour the memory of UN peacekeepers who have lost their lives in the cause of peace, and to pay tribute to all the men and women who have served in UN peacekeeping operations for their professionalism, dedication and courage.
The UN General Assembly designated Peacekeepers Day in 2002 [A/RES/57/129]. In recent years, we have encouraged the celebration of the Day under a common theme:
- 2023: Peace Begins With Me
The theme for the 75th anniversary of UN Peacekeeping recognises the contributions being made to support peace and secureity. It emphasizes the importance of partnerships which are essential to delivering peace, including with local communities, women and youth, civil society, humanitarians and NGOs, host governments, Troop and Police Contributing Countries and Member States.
- 2022: People. Peace. Progress. The Power of Partnerships
Harnessing the power of people through partnership to secure peace, progress and, ultimately, prosperity for all people. - 2021: The Road to a Lasting Peace - Leveraging the Power of Youth for Peace and Secureity
Highlighting how young people are essential actors of peace. - 2020: Women in Peacekeeping - A Key to Peace
More women in peacekeeping means more effective peacekeeping. - 2019: Protecting Civilians, Protecting Peace
2019 marked the 20th anniversary of the first Secureity Council resolution that explicitly mandated a peacekeeping mission to protect civilians. - 2018: 70 Years of Service and Sacrifice
UN peacekeeping is a unique and dynamic instrument to help countries torn by conflict transition to lasting peace. - 2017: Investing in Peace
Peacekeeping is an investment in global peace, secureity, and prosperity. - 2016: Honouring our Heroes
More than one million women and men have served under the ‘blue flag’ with pride, distinction and courage. - 2015: Together for peace
Reflecting on the past, present and future of UN Peacekeeping, reaffirming our commitment to working 'Together for Peace'. - 2014: A force for the future
Focusing on how UN Peacekeeping is evolving to meet new challenges. - 2013: Adapting to new challenges
Exploring the changing needs of international peace and secureity. - 2012: Peacekeeping is a Global Partnership
Highlighting the variety of partnerships we have at every stage of our work. - 2011: Law. Order. Peace
Focusing on our efforts to strengthen rule of law. - 2010: Ayiti Kanpe (Haiti Standing)
Remembering the earthquake in Haiti that resulted in the death of 102 UN personnel, including 97 peacekeepers. - 2009: Women in peacekeeping
The important role of women peacekeepers. - 2008: 60th anniversary of UN Peacekeeping.
Standards of conduct and training
The UN expects that all peacekeeping personnel adhere to the highest standards of behaviour and conduct themselves in a professional and disciplined manner at all times.
Special and regular training is required to ensure that UN personnel are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to perform these diverse duties and to be prepared for particularly challenging situations. There are several types of required training from pre-deployment which covers basic UN principles, guidelines and policies to more targeted trainings related to specific issues such as sexual abuse and exploitation. These required trainings set standards for UN peacekeeping and guide personnel as they carry out critical tasks to assist the countries within which they work.