International Day of UN Peacekeepers: May 29, Theme 'Invest in Peace'

Key facts

• The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers is observed annually on May 29.
• The theme for the 2025 International Day of UN Peacekeepers is 'Invest in Peace'.
• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) established the International Day of UN Peacekeepers in 2002, choosing May 29 because on that day in 1948 the Security Council established the first UN peacekeeping mission, the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) in the Middle East.
• The Dag Hammarskjold Medal is awarded posthumously to peacekeepers who died in the line of duty; this year 68 peacekeepers will be honoured, including two Indian peacekeepers: Lance Havildar Harbhajan Singh and Naib Subedar Sujit Kumar Pradhan.
• Major Abhilasha Barak, the first woman combat helicopter pilot of the Indian Army, will receive the 2025 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award; she is the third Indian recipient after Major Suman Gawani and Major Radhika Sen.