UN to honour fallen peacekeepers, including two from Nepal

The United Nations is set to observe the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers on June 5 with a solemn ceremony at its New York headquarters. The event will pay tribute to personnel who have lost their lives while serving in missions across the globe.

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The UN says peacekeeping remains one of the most effective tools for supporting political solutions, protecting civilians, monitoring ceasefires and enabling humanitarian access.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres will lead the observance, laying a wreath to honor the fallen. The prestigious Dag Hammarskjöld Medal will be awarded posthumously to 68 military, police, and civilian personnel, 59 of whom died in UN missions last year. Among those being honored are two peacekeepers from Nepal: Corporal Suraj Lamichhane, who died in the Central African Republic in 2025, and Private Debi Ram Jaisi, who died in East Timor in 2000.

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Nearly 4,500 peacekeepers have died since 1948, including 59 last year, and stressed that attacks on peacekeepers violate international humanitarian law.

Nepal continues its significant role in global peacekeeping, currently serving as the largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN missions. With over 4,300 military and police personnel, including 364 women, deployed across 11 missions worldwide, Nepal's commitment remains steadfast. These personnel serve in diverse locations such as Abyei, the Central African Republic, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, the Middle East, Somalia, South Sudan, and Western Sahara.

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Peacekeeping is a “proven and cost-effective way” to restore stability but requires political backing and reliable funding.

This year's theme, “Invest in Peace,” arrives as UN peacekeeping operations grapple with diminishing resources. The UN emphasizes peacekeeping's effectiveness in supporting political solutions, protecting civilians, monitoring ceasefires, and facilitating humanitarian access. Secretary-General Guterres highlighted that nearly 4,500 peacekeepers have died since 1948, underscoring that attacks on peacekeepers violate international humanitarian law. He stressed that while peacekeeping is a proven and cost-effective method for restoring stability, it requires robust political backing and consistent funding. The ceremony will also recognize exceptional courage and service through other awards, including the Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal and accolades for Military Gender Advocate and UN Woman Police Officer of the Year.

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Peacekeepers continue to protect civilians and prevent escalation of violence despite rising conflict and shrinking resources, adding that investing in peacekeeping means investing in stability and prevention.