ROME/NEW YORK, MAY 29 – Italy reaffirms its commitment within the United Nations for international peace and security on the occasion of the 18th International Day of the United Nations Peacekeepers. Established in 2003, the day pays tribute to the dedication and spirit of sacrifice of the personnel involved in UN peace missions.
This year the International Day of Peacekeepers is dedicated to the role of women in peacekeeping operations, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of Resolution 1325 “Women Peace and Security”, a resolution that aims to strengthen the role of women in peace processes. “Day by day, women peacekeepers help improve all aspects of our operations and performance; they ensure better access to local communities; they prevent and reduce conflict and confrontation; and they serve as role models for their peers and others,” the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, said.
“Our country, one of the main contributors to the UN peacekeeping budget and the first contributor of Blue Helmets among Western countries, is strongly convinced of the validity of peace missions and firmly believes in the added value of women personnel. Women Blue Helmets have shown an exceptional ability to mitigate tensions in conflict areas, to promote human rights, to protect the civilian population by creating relationships of trust with the weaker categories, often the main victims of violence in conflicts”, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs remarked in a statement.
Italy also has a long-standing tradition in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment, dedicating significant efforts and resources to promote women’s participation in peace processes and international mediation, the Ministry added. (@OnuItalia)
