United Nations (TDI): The United Nations has honored 57 military, police, and civilian peacekeepers from 32 nations, including two from Pakistan, who died serving in missions last year, at a ceremony marking the annual ‘International Day of UN Peacekeepers’.
Among the posthumous recipients of Dag Hammarskjold medals were Sepoy Muhammad Tarique and Havildar Ahsanullah Khan from Pakistan, both of whom served with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who presided over the ceremony in the Trusteeship Council Chamber at UN Headquarters, presented the awards for the martyred peacekeepers. The medals were received by the ambassadors of their respective nations.
The civilians’ awards were received on behalf of their families by UN Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support Atul Khare.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, accompanied by the Mission’s Military Adviser Col Umar Shafique, received the awards for his countrymen.
Guterres also presented the 2024 Military Gender Advocate of the Year award to Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme from Ghana, and the United Nations Woman Police Officer of the Year award to Superintendent Zainab Gbla of Sierra Leone. Both also serve with UNISFA.
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The current year’s theme focused on the future of peacekeeping. Guterres stated that peacekeepers face increasingly difficult situations in a complex world,” citing growing polarization, terrorism, misinformation, climate change, and transnational crime.
“Now more than ever, the world needs the UN and the United Nations needs peacekeeping that is fully equipped for today’s realities and tomorrow’s challenges,” he said.
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The secretary-general emphasized that it is necessary that peacekeepers have what they require to do their jobs, describing it the shared responsibility of the UN and Member countries.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
