In a solemn recognition of the supreme sacrifice and commitment to global peace, the United Nations will posthumously honour two Indian peacekeepers during the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers commemoration on May 29.
Brigadier General Amitabh Jha and Havildar Sanjay Singh, who lost their lives while serving under the UN flag last year, will be honoured with the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal.
Amitabh Jha served with the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), and Sanjay Singh was deployed with the UN Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO).
Both peacekeepers lost their lives last year in the line of duty under the UN flag.
India is the 4th largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping.
It currently deploys more than 5,300 military and police personnel to the UN peace operations in Abyei, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, Somalia, South Sudan, and Western Sahara.
During ceremonies at the world body’s headquarters to mark Peacekeepers Day, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will lay a wreath to honour the more than 4,400 UN peacekeepers who have lost their lives since 1948.
Guterres will also preside over a ceremony at which the Dag Hammarskjold Medals will be awarded posthumously to 57 military, police, and civilian peacekeepers who lost their lives serving under the UN flag last year.
The Secretary-General will also present awards to the 2024 Military Gender Advocate of the Year, Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme from Ghana, and the UN Woman Police Officer of the Year award to Superintendent Zainab Gbla of Sierra Leone.
Last year, India’s Major Radhika Sen was conferred the 2023 Military Gender Advocate of the Year for her service with MONUSCO.
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The theme this year, “The Future of Peacekeeping”, reflects global leaders’ commitment — outlined in the Pact for the Future (adopted September 2024) — to modernize and strengthen peacekeeping efforts amid evolving global threats.
