International Day for Living Together in Peace & International Day of UN Peacekeepers

The month of May marks two remarkable days. The world celebrates the International Day of Living Together in Peace on the 16th of May, and the International Day for UN Peacekeepers on the 29th of May. Both days promote living together in peace and appreciating the invaluable contributions of personnel to the UN Peacekeeping Organization. In its charter under Article1, the first purpose of the establishment of the United Nations is to maintain international peace and security.

This year, the challenges and threats faced by our peacekeepers are even greater than ever. Like people around the globe, they are not only coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, but also supporting and protecting the people in countries they are based in. They are continuing their operations to the best of their abilities and supporting the governments and the local populations, despite the risk of COVID-19. The theme for this year’s Day is “Women in Peacekeeping: A Key to Peace” to help mark the 20th anniversary of the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. Commemorating both days at such times is a call for international solidarity, to unite all efforts in countering the spread of COVID-19 primarily, and ending all forms of violence and war around the world generally. 

The United Nations Secretary General H.E Mr. António Guterres highlighted the key role of Women as part of the UN Peacekeepers  “This is especially important today, as female peacekeepers are on the frontlines in supporting the response to COVID-19 in already fragile contexts – using local radio to spread public health messaging, delivering necessary supplies to communities for prevention, and supporting efforts of local peacebuilders. Yet, women continue to represent only 6% of uniformed military, police, justice and corrections personnel in field missions.” In his statement to honor more than one million men and women who have served as United Nations peacekeepers and more than 3,900 who have lost their lives in the line of duty. 

Since its admission to the United Nations on 14 May 1963, the State of Kuwait has been pursuing a peaceful and balanced policy based on the principles and objectives of the United Nations Charter. Kuwait firmly believes in the importance of not resorting to the use or threat of force to settle disputes, but rather resorting to dialogue to foster the values of tolerance, peace and co-existence between the different civilizations, cultures and religions. And under the able leadership of H.H the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, as a Humanitarian Leader, Kuwait adopts the notion of promoting peace in its external and internal policies. The State of Kuwait have been, and continues to be, a broker for peace in the region and worldwide, through its affirmed efforts on reaching political solutions through peace talks in Syria, Sudan, Yemen, Libya, Afghanistan and others, as well as its mediation effort aimed to bring an end to the GCC crisis. In addition to its efforts to promote peace during its membership in the United Nations Security Council (2018-2019), which was widely commended by fellow members in the Security Council and resulted in the adoption of several resolutions aiming to promote peace and cohesion.

Internally, the State of Kuwait also promotes living together in peace and cohesion through the various humanitarian initiatives taken by NGOs and other entities to support the most vulnerable during this pandemic, and beyond.

These days provides an opportunity for all humanity to unite all efforts in promoting peace, which will reflect on the creation and fostering of an inclusive peaceful and sustainable environment for the entire international community.