Day of the Peacekeeper 2024
© Foto: BMVg
On 27 June 2024, Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius, Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock and Federal Minister of the Interior and Community Nancy Faeser honored three soldiers, three civilian experts and three police officers for their services in international peacekeeping and foreign missions as part of the "Day of the Peacekeeper".
They were thus honored on behalf of all those who are involved in peacekeeping missions, often under difficult living and working conditions. The three ministries have been celebrating "Day of the Peacekeeper" since 2013, expressing their gratitude and appreciation for all German peacekeepers every year.
This year, peacekeepers who have served in Lebanon (UNIFIL), South Sudan (UNMISS), the Special Criminal Court for the Central African Republic, Armenia (EUMA), Kosovo (UNMIK) and Somalia (EUCAP Somalia) were honored. The tasks of those honored are as varied as the areas of deployment: they range from military training and countering arms smuggling, to administering justice at an international court and establishing an inclusive justice system, to carrying out patrols and preventing inter-ethnic crimes.
The honored civilian experts:
- Dr. Ntagahoraho Burihabwa, Special Assistant des Deputy Head of Mission, United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL) Libanon
- Michelle Dörlemann, Judicial Affairs Adviser, United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM)
- Dr. Ousman Njikam, International Deputy Registrar, Sonderstrafgerichtshof / Cour Pénale Spéciale / Special Criminal Court (SCC) Zentralafrikanische Republik
The honored police officers:
- Polizeioberkommissarin Lysanne Köhnke, Monitorin im Fieldoffice Martuni, European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA)
- Kriminalhauptkommissarin Dörthe Papakonstantinou, Operation Liaison Officer, Datenanalystin, United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)
- Polizeihauptmeister André Stock, Armed Protection Operator, European Union Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia)
The honored soldiers:
- Oberstleutnant Michael Diers, Chief U2 FHQ Juba, United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS)
- Stabsbootsmann Maik Henningsen, Admin to COM MTF, United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
- Oberleutnant zur See Katrin Lange, Special Officer 2 (SO 2), United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
Germany assumes responsibility for peace and security worldwide. It makes substantial contributions to peacekeeping missions. There are currently 639 soldiers, 170 seconded civilian experts, numerous other Germans employed directly by the UN and 67 police officers deployed. In addition, Germany is the fourth largest contributor to the overall UN peacekeeping budget with a share of 6.1% and the second largest contributor to the OSCE budget with 11%, from which the OSCE field operations, offices and institutions are also financed. Germany also makes the largest contribution of all EU member states to the financing of civilian and military missions and operations under the Common Security and Defense Policy (around 25%) and participates in NATO missions and operations.
Background:
The United Nations is the world's most important framework for maintaining security and peace. UN peacekeeping missions are legitimized by the international community, have been proven to reduce violence in their areas of operation and are by far the most cost-effective instrument in international crisis management. Peacekeeping measures in the United Nations therefore remain a central element of German security policy. Germany is extensively involved in the peacekeeping reform in order to make UN missions safer and more effective. In addition, next year the Federal Ministry of Defense and the Federal Foreign Office, in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community, will host the world's most important and highest-ranking meeting for UN peacekeeping missions, the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial, in Berlin.
Furhter information: Tag des Peacekeeping 2024 (bmvg.de)