Peace Begins with Me: International Day of UN Peacekeepers

For 75 years, UN peacekeeping has made a tangible difference to the lives of millions of people caught up in catastrophic conflict. More than two million uniformed and civilian personnel have contributed to this global effort to achieve peace and progress for all peoples.

The landscape in which UN Peacekeeping operates is more hazardous today than ever. Geopolitical tensions at the global level reverberate locally. Conflicts are more complex. Despite these challenges, peacekeepers persevere in the pursuit of peace, alongside many partners. We continue to build strong and enduring relationships with local communities, women and youth, civil society, humanitarian and non-governmental organizations, and governments.

This campaign aims to share stories of peace from distant parts of the world: Lebanon, South Sudan, Western Sahara, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cyprus, Central African Republic, and more – of how and why peacekeepers and partners, such as local community leaders, civil society, UN and humanitarian actors, and governments come together to protect people and peace. It also shows how their legacy inspires us all to take action in the knowledge that “peace begins with me”.

The campaign content, tagged #PeaceBegins was posted across all owned digital channels: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, Medium and the UN Peacekeeping website. Various Inside Out Action was also conducted as part of the month-long campaign in New York, Cyprus, Jerusalem and South Sudan. The popular Peacekeeper of the Day feature celebrated the dedication and impact of individual peacekeepers, and gave online audiences access to “A Day in the life of a Peacekeeper” with glimpses of daily lives and aspirations, as well as the diverse backgrounds and responsibilities of peacekeepers, spanning military, civilian and police components of peacekeeping.