#working4peace

[unpeacekeeping]

Peacekeepers serving with our mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) keep vigil in the thick Congolese jungle.

MONUSCO has increased its reach and presence in remote areas such as this to counter “negative elements”, such as armed groups and reduce their threat to the population. 

Photo by: MONUSCO Nord Kivu brigade/ Major Lakshay

[unpeacekeeping]

The people of Cyprus want a peaceful future.

Last week, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stressed the need to find a "sustainable solution for the Republic of Cyprus and for the communities of the Republic of Cyprus" at the Conference on Cyprus in Geneva. UN Peacekeeping has maintained a mission on the island (UNFICYP) since 1964. Watch this video to find out how the United Nations has been helping maintain peace on the island and is encouraging unification.

[unpeacekeeping]

Protectors of peace and heritage.

Our peacekeepers in Lebanon have a long history of protecting cultural heritage sites by clearing access paths to monuments, building protective walls and cleaning historical artefacts. Recently, Nepalese peacekeepers serving with our mission in the country (UNIFIL) returned to Shaqra-Dubiyye Fort, near Bint Jbeil, to continue work they have been doing to protect and preserve the fort. Read more: http://bit.ly/2iR8aZI

[unpeacekeeping]

#DIDYOUKNOW That Civil Affairs is one of the largest civilian components in UN Peacekeeping?

Usually deployed at the local level, Civil Affairs Officers work at the social, administrative and sub-national political levels to facilitate conditions for sustainable peace. Learn more: http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/issues/civil/ 

About the photo: Civil Affairs Officers serving with our peacekeeping mission in #SouthSudan (UNMISS) conduct a meditation workshop for women living in one of our protection of civilian sites in Juba.

[unpeacekeeping]

#DIDYOUKNOW That there have been 71 peacekeeping operations since 1948 when UN Peacekeeping officially began?

Find out more UN Peacekeeping facts here: http://bit.ly/2jqEJOj 

About the photo: This picture, taken on 1 April 1965, shows an observation post manned by Irish peacekeepers serving with our mission in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

[unpeacekeeping]

Nepalese peacekeepers serving with our mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, MONUSCO, provide medical services in the in the village of Mataba, Mulekera commune, Beni territory, North Kivu.

Mobile medical clinics, such as this one, are regularly organized by our peacekeepers in many of the missions we serve.

Photo: Anne Hermann/MONUSCO

[unpeacekeeping]

“Let us resolve to put peace first. Let us make 2017 a year in which we all – citizens, governments, leaders – strive to overcome our differences. “

Secretary-General António Guterres shares an appeal for peace in the New Year stressing the futility of war, as well as our collective responsibility to achieve it stating, “All that we strive for as a human family – dignity and hope, progress and prosperity – depends on peace.” 

[unpeacekeeping]

The head of the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) unit of our peacekeeping mission in Central African Republic (MINUSCA) explains how his unit works with partners and stakeholders to create an enabling environment for peace.

DDR officers help ex-combatants reintegrate into communities and leave behind a life of war by: removing weapons from the hands of combatants; taking the combatants out of military structures; integrating combatants socially and economically into society.