UN Peacekeepers: Between Tribute and Turbulence (Video)

UN Peacekeeping Faces Renewed Scrutiny Amid Calls for Reform and Recognition

By Ahmed Fathi

UNHQ, New York: On the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, the UN paid tribute to the more than 4,400 peacekeepers who have died in service since 1948—while also confronting the urgent need to reform and reinvest in one of its most visible and burdened operations.

Speaking at UN Headquarters in New York, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, delivered a candid assessment of the current state of UN peacekeeping following the 2025 Peacekeeping Ministerial held in Berlin. The high-level gathering drew over 150 delegations, including 60 at the ministerial level, and resulted in numerous pledges of continued support.

“The main takeaway from the Berlin meeting was that peacekeeping remains very strongly supported by Member States,” Lacroix told journalists. However, he stressed that translating pledges into impact will require far more than goodwill. “We have a great amount of work to do to operationalize all the commitments,” he said, citing areas such as peacekeeper safety, conduct and discipline, use of digital technology, and improving coordination with host governments.

These reform efforts are taking place under the broader umbrella of the UN80 initiative—Secretary-General António Guterres’s ambitious plan to modernize the organization ahead of its 80th anniversary. As part of that effort, the Department of Peace Operations and the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs have begun a comprehensive review of all peace missions.

Still, looming over the day’s events was the question of resources. Lacroix acknowledged that many of the UN’s top financial contributors are operating under fiscal constraints but underscored the need for predictable and adequate funding. “We are committed to maximizing our own cost-effectiveness,” he said. “But it is imperative that peacekeeping be provided with the resources that are needed to deliver on the mandate.”

Later in the day, Secretary-General Guterres presided over a wreath-laying ceremony to honor the fallen and addressed the General Assembly in the ECOSOC Chamber. “Over the decades, more than 2 million women and men have served in 72 UN missions across four continents,” he said. “In the communities and countries in which they serve, UN peacekeepers are an important symbol of the United Nations at its best.”

Two peacekeepers were singled out for recognition this year: Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme of Ghana and Superintendent Zainab Gbla of Sierra Leone. Both serve with the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and were honored for their contributions to gender advocacy and operational excellence.

As conflict zones grow more complex and political divisions deepen, peacekeeping continues to serve as a test of multilateral cooperation—and of the UN’s ability to adapt. “Peacekeeping is constantly adapting,” said Lacroix. “It remains a cost-effective tool, but it can only succeed if backed by political will and sufficient support.”

The ceremony and press briefing underscored the dual nature of the UN’s peacekeeping challenge: remembrance for lives lost, and a reckoning with the evolving demands of maintaining peace in a rapidly shifting global order.

Watch the full video package above for highlights from the press conference and the award ceremony.