In 2002, the UN General Assembly, on the initiative of a number of states, including the Kyrgyz Republic, adopted a resolution declaring May 29 as the International Day of UN Peacekeepers in order to pay tribute to the military, police and civilians for their invaluable contribution to establishing and maintaining stability and security in the most complex and dangerous points of the world in conflict and post-conflict situations.

The first UN peacekeeping mission was established on May 29, 1948, when the UN Security Council authorized the deployment of a small contingent of UN military observers in the Middle East.

Kyrgyzstan, being the first Central Asian country to take part in the UN peacekeeping operation, in accordance with national legislation sends its representatives to the UN peacekeeping missions from among active military personnel and law enforcement officials. Our peacekeepers, as part of the UN contingent, are contributing to peace, protecting the most vulnerable groups and supporting countries during the transition from conflict to peace.

Currently, about 15 peacekeepers from the Kyrgyz Republic serve in UN missions in Darfur, South Sudan and Abyei, and in accordance with the UN mandate, they ensure peace in entrusted areas, performing complex tasks of peacekeeping and conflict containment, even in the context of the spread of COVID-19.

This year, UN Peacekeepers Day is dedicated to the theme “Women Peacekeepers - the Key to Peace” to mark the 20th anniversary of the UN Security Council's Resolution 1325, which emphasizes the need to expand the role and contribution of women in UN field operations, and especially among military observers, civilian police personnel, human rights officers and humanitarian personnel.