Day of the Peacekeeper
Each year since 2013 the German Day of the Peacekeeper has been held under the catchphrase “working for peace.” Once a year, the Federal Republic of Germany honours three police officers, three soldiers and three civilian experts as representatives of all the Germans deployed in international peace operations.
Day of the Peacekeeper
The German Peacekeeping Day was initiated in 2013 as an expression of appreciation and gratitude toward German personnel working in international peace operations. By coming together to honour three police officers, three soldiers and three civilian experts every year, the event also highlights the particular importance of the comprehensive approach in crisis and conflict management.
It is inspired by the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. Each year on May 29, marking the start of the first peace operation in 1948, the United Nations commemorate its active and fallen personnel in missions.
The purpose of the integrated approach in crisis and conflict management is to:
- coordinate and, through pooling of resources or division of labour, to optimally employ
- resources of diplomacy, development cooperation, security policy and humanitarian aid,
- across departmental, ministerial or institutional boundaries.
German Peacekeeping Day 2023
© Mike Auerbach
On June 23, 2022, the Federal Foreign Office organized in cooperation with ZIF to once again honor German personnel in international peace operations for their achievements. For the first time, the ceremony took place in the German Bundestag.
The following civilian experts were honored:
- Swen Dornig, NATO LANDCOM
- Sahra El Fassi, WFP Palestine
- Sabrina Schirmer, OSCE Bosnia and Herzeogovina
Read the full speech of Federal Minister Annalena Baerbock here (German only).
A Look Back at Past Events
Overview of Previous Days of the Peacekeeper
2022
The ninth Day of the Peacekeeper was held on June 23rd 2022 and hosted by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community:
The following peacekeepers were honoured:
- Hannelore Valier, EUAM Ukraine
- Sebastian Hulde, SMM Ukraine
- Sabine Arnold, UNMISS Südsudan
2021
The eighth Day of the Peacekeeper was held on June 23rd 2021 and hosted by the Federal Ministry of Defense as an online event:
The following peacekeepers were honoured:
- Annett Gerber, OSZE SMM Ukraine
- Chief Petty Officer Michael Pantke, MINUSMA Mali
- Chief Police Inspector Axel Rehbehn, UNSOM Somalia
2020
No event
2019
2019: The seventh Day of the Peacekeeper was celebrated on 6 June in the Federal Foreign Office.
The following civilian experts were honoured:
- Kerstin Bartsch, Anti-Human Trafficking Adviser, EUCAP Sahel Niger
- Sebastian Frowein, Protection of Civilians Officer, MINUSMA Mali
- Claudia Vollmer, Head of Democratization Department, OSCE Presence in Albania
2018
2018: On 26 June, the sixth Day of the Peacekeeper was celebrated in the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community.
The following civilian experts were honoured:
- Herta Eckert, Acting Head of the Luhansk Office, SMM Ukraine
- Michaela Ragg, Liaison Officer to the Ministry of the Interior of Niger, EUCAP Sahel Niger
- Matthias Plum, Adviser Justice Support Section Headquarter, MONUSCO
2017
2017: The 2017 Day of the Peacekeeper was hosted by the Federal Ministry of Defence on 23 October.
The following civilian experts were honoured:
- Emanuela Goerick, HR Officer, UNMC
- Sylwia Zalewska-Loewenberg, Criminal Law Expert, EUBAM Libya
- Matthias Kalusch, Head of Kiev’s Monitoring Team, SMM Ukraine
2016
The fourth German Day of the Peacekeeper was held on 1 June, 2016 in the Federal Foreign Office.
The following civilian experts were honoured:
- Christian Burckhardt, Political Advisor, MONUSCO
- Christel Liermann, International Engagement Officer, EUPOL Afghanistan
- Eva-Maria Velickovic, Monitoring Officer, SMM Ukraine
2015
The third Day of the Peacekeeper was organised by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and took place on 10 June 2015.
The following civilian experts were honoured:
- Antje Grawe, Special Assistant to the SRSG, MINUSTAH
- Christina Wagner, Human Rights & Gender Expert, EUCAP Sahel Niger
- Gertraud Marx-Leitenberger, Judge Special Chamber of the Supreme Court for Privatisation Matters, EULEX Kosovo
2014
The second Day of the Peacekeeper was celebrated on 11 June 2014 in the Federal Ministry of Defence.
The following civilian experts were honoured:
- Jörg Hinrichs-Lahmann, Reporting Officer, EUCAP Nestor
- Lisa Reefke, Political Affairs Officer, UNMISS
- Helena Karolina Szydlak, Reporting and Statistics Expert, EUPOL RD Congo
2013
The first Day of the Peacekeeper took place on 12 June 2013 in the Federal Foreign Office.
The following civilian experts were honoured:
- Kirsten Joppe, Chief of Security Monitoring Section, OMIK
- Nikolai Rogosaroff, Planning Officer in the Rule of Law and Security Institutions Support Office, UNMISS
- Jutta-Anna Lengsfeld, Rule of Law Adviser-Justice, EUPOL Afghanistan
