UN Chief Marks 80th Anniv. with Call to Reinforce Peacekeeping Efforts

UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a powerful tribute to United Nations peacekeepers during the Ministerial Meeting on the Future of Peacekeeping in Berlin this week, as he called for renewed global commitment to the mission of sustaining peace in a world increasingly threatened by conflict.

“This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations,” Guterres began, thanking Germany for hosting the event. “Our organization was founded on the conviction that peace is possible if we work as one united human family. That is what our peace operations are about.”

Addressing delegates from across the globe, the Secretary-General underscored the diverse and vital roles UN peace operations play — from preventive diplomacy and negotiating ceasefires to supporting elections, demining war-torn regions, and protecting civilians. But he placed special emphasis on the centerpiece of the ministerial gathering: peacekeeping.

Guterres hailed UN Blue Helmets as “the most globally recognized symbol of the world’s ability to come together to help countries move from conflict to peace.” He highlighted the diversity and unity of the peacekeeping force, with personnel drawn from all corners of the world, bound by a shared commitment to stability and security.

“As we meet today, UN peacekeepers are hard at work helping to ensure that ceasefires are respected, protecting civilians caught in the line of fire, helping provide the conditions for lifesaving aid to flow to those in need, and laying the foundations for long-term recovery,” Guterres said. “In trouble spots around the world, Blue Helmets can mean the difference between life and death.”

The Secretary-General pointed to a legacy of peacekeeping success, citing nations like Cambodia, Côte d’Ivoire, El Salvador, Liberia, Namibia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and Timor-Leste as examples of countries that have transitioned from conflict to durable peace with UN support — many of which are now contributors to peacekeeping missions themselves.

Yet, he also reminded the global community of the heavy cost of peace. “Through the decades, 4,400 peacekeepers have fallen in the line of duty. Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten,” he said, calling for a moment of silence in their memory.

Guterres concluded his remarks by saying:  “Peace comes at a price — but it is far less than the cost of war. Let us honour those who serve and those who have fallen by strengthening our commitment to peacekeeping, and to the ideals upon which the United Nations was built.”