Berlin, May 14 – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for strengthening peacekeeping operations to make them more relevant to contemporary and future challenges.
He emphasized that peacekeeping remains a central tool for achieving peace, commending the sacrifices and contributions of peacekeepers in conflict zones around the world.
Addressing the Ministerial Meeting on the Future of Peacekeeping, hosted by Germany, Guterres stated that “the UN was founded on the conviction that peace is possible if we work as one united human family.”
He explained that UN peacekeepers, or Blue Helmets, are “the most globally recognized symbol of the world’s ability to come together to help countries move from conflict to peace.”
The UN Secretary-General cited a number of countries that have achieved durable peace with the support of UN peacekeeping forces, including Cambodia, Cote d’Ivoire, El Salvador, Liberia, Namibia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Timor-Leste, noting that many of these countries currently contribute troops to peacekeeping operations.
However, peacekeeping comes at a cost, according to Guterres, with over 4,400 peacekeepers having lost their lives in the line of duty.
He acknowledged the growing challenges facing peacekeeping today, including more complex and cross-border conflicts, global polarization, misinformation, terrorism, climate-related instability, and widespread disregard for international law.
Guterres noted that peacekeeping operations are among the most cost-effective tools for building international peace and security.
He urged all 193 UN Member States to fulfill their financial commitments and help build future-ready peacekeeping missions that meet current and emerging global challenges.
