The Dag Hammarskjöld Medal, UN Woman Police Officer of the Year and UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year, and Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal for Exceptional Courage ceremonies - International Day of UN Peacekeepers 2026

Excellencies.
General, ladies and gentlemen, the Captain Belgian Medal, military Gender Advocate of the Year Award, the Woman Police Officer of the Year Award, and the Dag Hammarskjöld ceremony for 2026 is about to start.
We kindly request you all to take your seats, switch off your cell phone or put them in silent mode.
Kindly note interpretation is being provided.
Excellencies, Generals, ladies and gentlemen, the Secretary-General has joined at the ceremony.
Mr.
Secretary-General, Excellencies, Distinguished representatives of member states.
Generals, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Captain Diagne Medal military Gender advocate of the Year Award, the Woman Police Officer of the Year Award, and the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal Ceremony.
The General Assembly in its resolution 57,129 designated 29 of May as International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.
This year, we are commemorating the 78th anniversary of United Nations Peacekeeping today, 5th of June 2026.
During today's ceremony, the Captain and Bian Medal, Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award, the Women Police Officer of the Year Award, and the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal will be presented.
A few words on the Captain Diagne Medal.
The Captain Diagne Medal for Exceptional courage was established by the United Nations Security Council in 2014 through its resolution 21 54.
To this date, in addition to the award presented to the widow of the late Captain Diagne 2016, the medal has been awarded twice in 2019 and 2022.
The criteria are exceptional bravery and courage beyond the call of duty, performed in an environment of extreme danger, serving humanity and involving the protection of human life.
This year, nominations evaluated against the criteria were from Monusco, Unisa and Ames.
Two Captain Diagne Medal will be presented for the 2024, 2025 and 2025 2026 cycles.
Under Secretary-General letter of appreciation have also been issued to nine peacekeepers for their heroic acts that contributed to saving lives in Unisa and Ames.
Now, the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Word.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 13 25 on women, peace and security underscores the principles of prevention, protection, participation, and gender equality.
Established in 2016, the Military Gender Advocate of the Year recognized the outstanding dedication and effort of an individual military peacekeeper in promoting these principles within a peace operations context.
This year, 22 nominations from nine field missions were received for consideration of this award.
This was followed by a rigorous selection process that resulted in the selection of the recipient of the tenth military Gender advocate of the Year.
For over two decades, the police division, as part of its efforts to enhance operational effectiveness and mandate delivery, has developed several initiatives to increase the participation of women across the full spectrum of United Nations policing functions.
Among these initiatives is the United Nations Woman Police Officer of the Year Award.
Established in 2011, the award recognizes the exceptional contributions of women police officers to UN peace operations and promotes women's empowerment.
This year, we proudly mark the 15th presentation of the awards by honoring a woman police officer from one of our field missions.
For its part, the Dog Hammershoelt medal was approved by the United Nations Security Council in July 1997, as tribute to the sacrifice of military, police, and civilian men and women from all over the world who have laid down their lives while serving EN peace operations.
This medal commemorates the strength, purity, and fragility of the lives lost in the cause of peace.
Today, 68 fallen peacekeepers from 33 member states will receive this symbol of the ultimate sacrifice.
And we now invite the United Nations Secretary-General to share his thoughts on this occasion.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Secretary-General.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen.
Moments ago, I laid a wreath to commemorate the nearly 4,500 people who have lost their lives since the United Nations began its peacekeeping work almost 80 years ago.
Unfortunately, as events on this very week remind us, peacekeepers continue to face peril in the cause of peace, and we pay the highest tribute to their service and sacrifice.
Please join me in a moment of silence to honor their memory.
Thank you.
Le Monde the world recently marked Peacekeepers Day.
Across the globe, the UN blue helmet is a symbol of hope for communities in their darkest hour.
UN peacekeeping has proven to be one of the international community's most effective responses to conflict.
As we meet, more than 50,000 peacekeepers are deployed across the globe, protecting civilian lives.
They are curbing violence, enabling political solutions, supporting elections, delivering humanitarian assistance, clearing land mines, and so much more.
Thanks to the dedication of our troop contributing countries, more than 2 million women and men have served in 71 peacekeeping missions on four continents.
They do so in the face of acute danger, displaying levels of bravery and initiative that stir the heart.
Today, it is my privilege to present four sets of awards recognizing the spirit of peacekeeping.
I am humbled to posthumously bestow the Dag Haskalt medal to 68 peacekeepers who have made the ultimate sacrifice, including 59 killed last year.
They came from 33 countries diverse in background, but united in the cause of peace.
They represent the best of humanity, people prepared to risk everything to keep others safe.
To their families and friends here today, we mourn with you.
And we vow to honor your loved ones in the best way we know how by carrying forward the mission to which they devoted their lives.
Excellencies, dear friends, We'll now recognize two recipients of the Captain Mai Dian Medal for exceptional courage.
The distinction bears the name of a Senegalese peacekeeper who in 1994 sacrificed his life in Rwanda while saving countless others.
It has only been bestowed three times before.
The first honoree is the late Seri Posko Sergei Podo of Ukraine.
He was a private contractor with a helicopter crew who served with UIs, the UN mission in South Sudan.
In March 2025, when a high risk evacuation needed to be carried out in Upper Nile State, he volunteered to take the place of a less experienced colleague.
The mission to extract a group of Bz soldiers was part of a wider effort to de escalate tensions and prevent further violence in the region.
Despite receiving assurance of safe passage, the helicopter came under heavy fire, killing Sergi and injuring two crewmates.
Sergi's wife and daughter Aria Ridas today.
I want you to know that over the course of his career, Sergi helped to save many lives.
He died in the act of saving more.
He will long be remembered by his colleagues in South Sudan and by the entire United Nations family.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen.
We also will bestow the dialogue medal on Sergeant Matias Reyes of Uruguay, who serves with Monusco in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In January 2025, Sergeant Reyes was stationed in Goma where he witnessed first fierce clashes between Army soldiers and M 23 rebels.
Some of the Congolese troops surrendered their weapons and sought refuge at the peacekeeper's base, but not all could make it on their own.
While helping to secure the entrance, Sergeant Reyes repeatedly went out to retrieve the wounded men and argon fire.
He carried them one by one on his back to safety.
Thanks to his efforts, 12 gravely injured soldiers received medical assistance at the peacekeepers makeshift hospital.
Those men owe him their lives.
Sergeant Reyes joins us online from Goma, where he continues to serve with Monusco.
Shinto.
Sergeant, you are a credit to the United Nations and we are proud to call you a colleague.
You have our everlasting gratitude and respect.
Excellencies, dear friends.
Today, we also celebrate two trailblazing women peacekeepers, our UN military Gender advocate of the Year, Measure Abila Shah Barak of India, and our UN Women Police Officer of the Year, Inspector Stephanie Koury of Germany.
Mejor Barak is deployed with UNIFIL, the UN interim force in Lebanon, where a number of peacekeepers have recently been injured or killed.
As the engagement team commander and gender focal point within the Indian Battalion, she works to ensure that every aspect of the operation respects and serves the needs of women and other vulnerable groups.
As a frontline commander, she has engaged thousands of women and girls through vocational training and programs for education and health.
She has built trust with local communities, created space for dialogue, and helped develop early warning networks that strengthen the mission's ability to protect civilians.
Her work shows the critical role that UIL plays for local communities and how its presence is transforming the lives of women and girls even under the most challenging circumstances.
Measure Barak, you are a role model to those you serve and those you serve and you serve with.
Congratulations and thank you for your service.
Excellencies, dear friends.
We also recognize Inspector Stephanie Cunigs.
While deployed with Duns from September 2024 to March 2026, Inspector Cunigs served as a police advisor as well as a patrol team leader within the mission's police component.
During a period of heightened political sensitivity and restricted movement in Juba, she led negotiations with national security forces at multiple checkpoints, navigating tense situations with confidence and calm and ensuring the safety of her patrol.
Her efforts enabled peacekeepers to access critical areas, including internally displaced persons sites where they provided vulnerable communities with lifesaving support.
Her leadership helped reinforce early warning mechanisms supporting vital decisions making during periods of crisis.
We recognize her professionalism, resilience, and commitment.
Her work is an example of our women officers leading frontline policing, even in the most complex and high risk environments.
Thank you, Inspector, for your example and on behalf of all the people who have been helped by your work.
Excellencies, families and friends.
I'm endlessly inspired by the women and men who wear the UN blue helmet.
They are protectors of the vulnerable and guardians of op in places where op is often in short supply.
I extend my deepest gratitude to the tens of thousands of peacekeepers serving under the UN flag across the globe.
We stand with them today and every day for security, for dignity, and for peace.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr.
Secretary-General, for your condolences and the words of encouragement.
Excellencies, Generals, ladies and gentlemen, let us watch short videos of the exploits of 2024, 2025 and 2025, 2026 cycle, recipients of the Captain Bay Dian Medal for exceptional courage.
Tech, concerti, Motan car.
Fu Valu Sergier loved the life and not only he mourned.
That's why he became a rescue.
Great rescuer, instructor.
He saved many lives during his professional path and gave own life saving others.
His in our minds.
His in our hearts forever.
Shall we now watch short videos of the activities of the military Gender advocate of the Year and the Woman Police Officer Award of the ear My name is Stephanie Kunis, and I was deployed to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
As the team leader for the patrol team in Heat of Suba, I have led a multicultural team in a high risk environment.
The ANPur presence is not only important because it's written in the mandate.
I saw that we really have an impact.
We are the face of the ANPR component when we are patrolling and especially doing the foot patrol in the IDP camps.
We are approachable, and it matters that ANPR stays visible in the area where we are needed the most.
The United Nations are committed to reach the gender equality, but as long as we are not reaching the equality to the fullest, the visibility matters.
We urgently need more female, especially in leadership positions.
We can lead with confidence and patience, and it matters to show not only within the AMPORE component, but also to our local counterparts what we are able to achieve.
To my female colleagues, We need you and we need you in operational leadership positions.
Be brave and sometimes be stubborn and you can achieve what you want to achieve.
If you think about it, you can do it.
Excellencies, Generals, ladies and gentlemen, my name is.
It is now time for the presentation of Captain Bian Meddle, the military Gender advocate and Women Police Officer of the Year Award.
We now kindly request the Secretary-General to kindly step forward to present the awards.
The Captain Ba Dian Medal for exceptional courage for 2024 2025 cycle goes to Corporal now Sergeant Matias Reyes of Monusco.
I invite the deputy permanent representative of Uruguay to the United Nations, Her Excellency, miss Gabriela Gonzalez to receive the medal on behalf of Corporal now Sergeant Matias Reyes of Monusco.
Sergeant Reyes could not be here with us today due to travel restriction in place at the moment.
May I now invite misses Tetiana Prito, the widow and next of kin of Mr.
Sergei Prijto to receive the captain B Dian Medal for exceptional colours for the 2025 2026 cycle.
We now invite the ninth military Gender advocate of the Year Wy, Major Abelajabarak, of the Armed Forces of India, to step forward for the award.
Excellencies, Generals, ladies and gentlemen, we now invite the 15th Woman Police Officer of the Year OD.
Inspector Stephanie Connings from Germany, please step forward to receive your award.
Excellencies, Gener, ladies and gentlemen, we now announce the names of uniformed fallen peacekeepers for the Dig Hammerschal medal.
The permanent representatives or designated officials are kindly requested to receive the medal on behalf of the fallen peacekeeper and sign the Cots book located to my left.
Austria.
Major Peter Semin.
People's Republic of Bangladesh.
Private Muhammad Jahangir Alam, Private Muhammad Subujmia, Corporal Mohamed Masud Rana, Private Mohamed Moomin Al Islam, Private Sham Reza, Private Chama Mador.
Bosnia and Herzevina.
Senior Inspector Ave Alibkovic.
Burundi.
We have to go to the Cap Chief Richard Diorio.
Kingdom of Cambodia.
Captain Donk Magali, First Lieutenant Munfat, Master Sergeant Bragda Republic of Cameroon.
Caporal Pierre Da Da Vanu, Aj Jeff, Jeanmarie Epi.
Chile.
Lieutenant Colonel Raul Jiminez Miranda.
Republic of Congo.
Commando Hernan Gildas Mouklo, Ajudan Regi So, Brigadsef, Jules Matoo Zaba, Marisel Delo Josef, Urich Fevier Ondi, Marisel Delo Josef, Sajiva Myo Kyi Bazola.
Cor de Voir.
Adré, A.
Djibouti.
Major Tesfai Biruy Gifa Kap Al Chef Ahmed Muhammad Mustafa.
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
Major Tesfae Birudi Gifa.
Ghana.
Warrant Officer Class I, George Am.
India, Lance Havildar Abrajan Singh, Na Suvida Sujit Kumar Pradan Republic of Indonesia.
Second Corporal Echo Prambudi Santoso, P first Sergeant, Sri Widodo.
Republic of Kazakhstan.
Okay.
Lieutenant Colonel Askar Mohammed Russo.
Republic of Kenya.
Major Paul Dogon jag.
Malaysia.
Sergeant Farida Abdahman Kingdom of Morocco, Corporal Ds Gabgabi, private first class Asher of Bukdama, Corporal Jawet Reali, Nepal, Corporal Suraj La Mishan, private Debi Ram Jassi.
Portugal, Agente Codinadora De Lai Fatima Rodriguez Lopez.
Republic of South Africa.
Private Marchetsef Mobi, private Andrés Desids Mabeli, miss Molego Anik Cobe.
Tunisia.
First Corporal Safin Hamrita.
Uruguay.
Private Rodolfo Cipriano Alvarez Suarez.
First Corporal, lio Cesar Alvarez Caceres.
Republic of Zambia.
Corporal Steve Moli Sagashoma, Staff Sergeant Alikbanda, Excellencies, generals, ladies and gentlemen, we will now honor the civilian personnel who sacrificed their lives for the cause of peace.
Mr.
Leonidas Ngina, Mr.
Samuel Jacko Muena, Mr.
William Kjo Ducey.
Miss Bertillo Larissa Yagaso Gingaa, Mr.
Nelson Silvan Pambina, Mr.
Justin Cumayo, Mr.
Diodan Macana, Mr.
Shidro Diaby, Mr.
Jan Louis Bavga Guende, Mr.
Cesar Mambo Vasa, Mr.
John Mumbaa Baboso, Mr.
Adrian Kindi Catangoa, Mr.
William Bali Takluava, Mr.
Nadir Km.
Miss Ellis Banjo Sege, ASG Asa Kirabu Ksera, Mr.
Peter Bo Malual Len, Mr.
Taban John Famafo Acco, Mr.
Christopher Jam Marceelo, Mr.
Bol Raj Mayt Kat, Mr.
Adam Abubakar, miss Eunice Mainan, Mr.
Paul William Ari Mecklenburg.
We now invite the Assistant Secretary-General for operational Support to come to the front of the podium, please.
The Secretary-General is kindly requested to present the Doug Hemschlt medal to the Assistant Secretary-General for operational Support, who will receive it on behalf of all fallen civilian peacekeepers.
This concludes the Doug Hammerschold medal presentation, and we kindly request the Secretary-General, the USG for Peace Operations, and ASG for operational support to take their seats.
Excellencies.
General, ladies and gentlemen, we will now play a recorded message from Sergeant Matias Reyes of Monusco recipient of the Captain Bijian Medal for the 2024 2025 cycle.
Distinguished representatives of the United Nations members of Monsco dear comrades and family.
Today, I receive this recognition, fully aware that it belongs to each and every member of our beloved unit.
During those critical days in Goma when reason seemed to have been lost.
Uruguay soldiers, guided by such profound principles as duty, humanity, and respect for life set aside their fears to save others even at the cost of their own lives because because that is the essence of being a soldier to serve.
I'd like to thank the United Nations for this recognition, my comrades and my beloved family for their constant support.
Finally, rest assured that this is and will remain the conduct of every Uruguay soldier, because we are fully aware that, as the Irish writer and philosopher Edmund Burke once said, the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.
We now invite misses Tetiana Prioto, next of kin of Mr.
Sergei Prito to deliver her remarks.
Distinguished guest and dear friends, my heart filled with both surprise and sorrow as I accept this medal on behalf of my beloved husband, Sergi Pri Hoso.
Said he was a man who believed deeply that duty is a calling.
Throughout his missions in Mali, Somalia, and South Sudan, he always went where help was needed most even when danger was inevitable.
He was responsible, courageous, and always ready to help others.
That is why in March 2025, he volunteered for a dangerous evacuation mission to save lives.
When their helicopters came under fire, said he did what he had always done.
He put others before himself.
His dedication to serving peace remains an inspiration to us all.
But beyond his service, he was also a loving husband, a devoted father, and a man who meant the world to our family.
This medal honors his bravery, but it also reminds us of the true costs of the peace, the sacrifices made by those who serve far from home for the sake of people they may never meet.
On behalf of our family, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the United Nations for this honor and for remembering Sahi not only as a fallen hero, but as a man who choose humanity every single day.
Thank you.
Thank you, miss Pritok.
May the soul of your husband and that of all other deceased peacekeepers rest in peace.
We now invite the military gender advocate of the Year Worthy, Major Ablasa Barak of India, to deliver her remarks.
Honorable Secretary-General, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, with gratitude and humility, I accept the 2025 United Nations Military Gender Advocate Award on behalf of my unil colleagues and my country, India.
It has been an honor to lead India's first engagement team to UNIFIL and to serve as a military gender focal point for In BAC 26, advancing the women peace and security agenda and integrating gender perspectives into peacekeeping operations.
Working in a complex operational environment taught me that real progress begins when every voice is heard and especially those of women which are too often unheard.
Together, we carried out outreach activities focused on gender empowerment.
These moments of connection helped build trust, helped build trust and showed me how small, consistent efforts can lead to a real change.
My commitment to empowerment is also personal.
At first, as being the first woman combat helicopter pilot in the Indian Army, I experienced firsthand how opportunity enables women to break barriers and reach milestones.
I firmly believe gender is not responsibility of a few, but it belongs to all of us.
I thank UNIFIL leadership in that family and the communities we served, along with my family and mentors whose encouragement sustained me.
This award is a reminder that lasting peace can only be built when every voice is heard and every individual is empowered.
Because dreams do not have a gender and neither does leadership, courage, or the will to serve humanity.
Thank you, Major Avila Sha Barak, for your inspirational work and encouraging words for the fellow peacekeepers.
Excellencies, Generals, ladies and gentlemen, we now invite the Woman Police Officer of the OD, Inspector Stephanie Connings from Germany to deliver her remarks.
Mr.
Secretary-General, Excellencies, distinguished guests, fellow peacekeepers, ladies and gentlemen.
It is a great honor to stand here today as the representative of all women police peacekeepers and to receive this award.
During my 1.5 year deployment to South Sudan as a patrol team leader in the nation's capital Juba, I saw and felt the impact of our presence on local communities every day.
Through our patrols and our engagement, we made a real difference in the lives of the people we were mandated to serve and protect.
Mr.
Secretary-General, this recognition is not only a personal honor for which I'm deeply grateful, it's also a tribute to all women police officers serving in peace operations around the world.
Time and again, women police officers have proven that they can lead and perform operational duties under the most challenging circumstances.
I hope that through my service, I have contributed in some small way to advancing gender equality.
I remain deeply proud to serve under the United Nations flag and committed to its values of peace, security, and equality.
Thank you very much, Mr.
Secretary-General.
Thank you, Inspector Cnings, for your inspirational work and encouraging works to our fellow peacekeepers.
Excellencies, generals, ladies and gentlemen, we now invite the ASG Dos to share her thoughts, please.
Secretary-General, Excellency' distinguished guests, colleagues and friends.
I am both humbled and deeply honored to accept this medal on behalf of the civilian peacekeepers who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the service of peace.
Today, I receive this medal on behalf of the families of 23 civilian personnel from 14 member states.
We pay tribute to their bravery and dedication to the cause of peace, and we grieve with their loved ones for this immeasurable loss.
The most meaningful way to honor their memory is to rededicate ourselves to strengthening the support we provide to all peacekeepers today and in the future.
Our women and men serve in some of the most challenging and complex environments in the world.
We collectively owe them a profound sense of gratitude for their courage, resilience, and immense sacrifices.
Civilian personnel perform critical functions that enable peacekeeping operations to fulfill their mandates.
They provide essential expertise in finance, logistics, supply chain management, engineering, human resources, medical support, environmental management, and digital services, often in remote and high risk locations to ensure that our missions can protect hundreds of thousands of civilians.
I acknowledge with profound respect the recipients of the Captain Embe Deng Medal, the late Sergei Pikto of Ukraine, who served in UMS, and Sergeant Matias Reyes of Uruguay, who serves in Monusco.
Their extraordinary courage and selfless actions embody the highest ideals of United Nations peacekeeping and the unwavering protection of human life.
I also extend my sincere appreciation to Major Abel Hasa Barak of India, recipient of the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award, whose leadership and innovation have advanced the Women Peace and Security agenda across military operations.
Inspector Stephanie Kgs of Germany, recipient of the United Nations Women Police Officer of the Year Award for her exceptional professionalism, operational leadership, and personal courage while serving in Juba.
Excellency, colleagues, the Department of Operational Support remains firmly committed to enhancing the safety, security, and effectiveness of all peacekeepers.
Together with the Department of Peace Operations, we continue to expand access to specialized training, modern equipment, and mission enabling capabilities that allow peacekeepers to operate more safely and effectively.
We are advancing several key initiatives such as strengthening medical support, including improved Medvat Kazavk arrangements, modernizing supply chains to ensure timely delivery of critical equipment, spare parts, and life support items, expanding digital and technology enabled solutions, and remote monitoring systems to improve situational awareness and reduce risk, improving camp infrastructure with a focus on environmental sustainability, renewable energy, and safe living and working conditions for all personnel.
Enhancing environmental and occupational safety standards, and supporting member states through strengthened pre deployment training and clearer standards for equipment readiness and medical compliance.
We will continue to work closely with member states and field missions to ensure that peacekeepers are equipped with the fit for purpose capabilities, supported by rapid and effective emergency medical care and backed by responsive systems that allow us to act swiftly when incidents occur.
Today, as we honor those who have fallen, we reaffirm our commitment to every peacekeeper who continues to serve.
Their courage inspires us.
The sacrifice obliges us and their legacy strengthens our resolve to build a safer, more peaceful world.
Thank you.
We thank Madam Assistant Secretary-General for operational support for her remarks.
Excellencies, Gener, ladies and gentlemen, we now kindly invite the US GDPO to share his thoughts.
Secretary-General, Excellencies, Generals, ladies and gentlemen.
I thank you, Secretary-General, for your powerful words.
Today, we honor extraordinary individuals, but we also honor the enduring values and shared purposes at the heart of United Nations peacekeeping.
The courage we recognize this morning is not abstract.
It's lived every day by peacekeepers serving in some of the world's most dangerous and difficult environments.
It is led by helicopter crews flying into active conflict zones to evacuate the wounded.
It is led by peacekeepers protecting populations under fire.
It is also lived by women and men who patrol the intense front lines, negotiate access to communities in need, clear explosive remnants of war, support elections and help create the conditions for political dialogue.
The stories that are being shared today remind us of what peacekeeping truly means.
In South Sudan, Sergpyhochko gave his life while helping to prevent further violence during a dangerous evacuation mission.
Today, we honor this courage and sacrifice and to his widow, Dear Tatiana, we extend our deepest condolences and gratitude to you and Shi's entire family and loved ones.
In Goma, Sergeant Matias Reyes repeatedly exposed himself to heavy gunfire to carry wounded soldiers to safety one by one.
Sergeant Reyes, we deeply regret that you are unable to join us today due to the health crisis in the DRC, and we thank you for your continued service under these difficult conditions.
In Lebanon and South Sudan, Major Abulsha Barak and Inspector Sephay Cornish demonstrated how leadership, trust building, and engagement with communities are not secondary aspects of peacekeeping.
Indeed, they are central to mission's effectiveness and the protection of civilians.
Major Barak and Inspector Konish, we thank you for your professionalism and your commitment to the communities you served.
Excellencies, colleagues and guests, These examples inspire us.
But they reflect also the reality which blue helmets have to face.
The day before yesterday, we tragically lost another blue helmet whose life was cut too short.
Sergeant Milovananovi died due to severe wounds as a result of mortar fire in the southwest of Lebanon.
He would have been 37-years-old tomorrow on the 6th of June.
This was his first deployment as a peace peacekeeper.
He arrived in Lebanon in January of this year.
Sergeant Ivanovich is seventh blue helmet killed in Lebanon since March of 2026.
These attacks against the blue helmets are unacceptable and those responsible for them must be held accountable.
This is just one example of what it means when we say that blue helmets work in increasingly complex environments, in increasingly tense geopolitical situations and technological contexts and growing pressure on multilateralism.
At the same time, peacekeeping operations are confronted with serious financial constraints that result as late or complete payments of mandatory obligation.
All these constraints are not theoretical, they're uh real consequences.
Thérèse are forced reductions in patrols, delayed infrastructure projects, affected training activities, reduced air operations, and limited support to local communities.
Some missions have had to reduce their footprint and civilian staffing at a time when expectations continue to grow and yet peacekeepers continue to deliver.
In the Central African Republic, peacekeepers have helped create the security conditions for humanitarian assistance and local dialogue in border areas affected by spillover from the conflict in Sudan.
In South Sudan, peacekeepers recently reopened critical supply routes after severe flooding, improving humanitarian access and mobility for communities.
In Lebanon, EN peacekeepers remain on the ground monitoring, reporting, and serving as critical liaisons under extremely difficult conditions and they're also supporting humanitarian assistance to the civilian population.
In Abi, peacekeepers continue working with communities to reduce tensions and support local conflict resolution efforts.
These efforts, just a few examples among many others, rarely make headlines, but they matter profoundly to the communities peacekeepers serve.
That is why this theme, invest in peace is so important.
Investing in peacekeeping means investing in stability, prevention, and political solutions.
It means recognizing that the cost of preventing conflict is always far lower than the cost of responding after violence escalates.
It means ensuring that peacekeepers have the political backing, resources, training, and capabilities required to carry out the mandates entrusted to them by member states.
Nearly 80 years after the establishment of the first United Nations peacekeeping missions, blue helmet remained a powerful symbol of international solidarity and shared responsibility.
Women and men we honor today remind us that peacekeeping is ultimately about people, people willing to serve far from home so that others may leave in greater safety and dignity.
To all peacekeepers serving under the UN flag today, we thank you and to the families and friends of the more than 4,500 peacekeepers we have lost since 1948, we remember your loved ones and honor their sacrifice.
To our member states, our collective responsibility is clear.
We must continue to invest in peace, not only in words, but in sustained political and financial support for the enduring work of peacekeeping.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr.
Under Secretary-General for Peace Operations, for your remarks.
Excellencies, gens, ladies and gentlemen, we will now apply the last post in honor of fallen peacekeepers.
Personnel in uniform are requested to kindly salute.
Moving exhibit.
Excellencies, Generals, ladies and gentlemen.
This concludes the awards ceremony for 2026.
Thank you very much for your participation in the International Day of the United Nations Peacekeepers.
You are kindly requested to remain in your places while the Secretary-General departs.
All right.
Thank you.