New York, 12 October 2022- Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix expressed appreciation for Peru’s strong support to United Nations Peacekeeping and for the service and sacrifice of its uniformed personnel deployed around the world under the UN flag.
Peru first contributed peacekeepers to the United Nations when it deployed troops to Lebanon in 1958, and it has been a consistent contributor ever since. Today, Peru provides 270 uniformed personnel, including 38 women, to five missions making it the 48th largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN peace operations.
Peru’s largest contribution of peacekeepers is to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), where 255 of its peacekeepers serve. The vast majority serve as part of the Peruvian Engineer Company, which performs construction and maintenance duties.
“The invaluable work of the Peruvian engineers to repair and construct roads and bridges not only enables MINUSCA to carry out is mandated activities, including protection efforts, but also makes a tangible impact on the lives of the local communities by boosting trade and enabling people from remote locations to access healthcare and forge connections with each other”, said Mr. Lacroix.
Peru also contributes to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL); the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS); and the UN Interim Force in Abyei, (UNISFA).
“The UN appreciates the service and sacrifice of the Peruvian men and women who serve in dangerous and difficult environments. Peruvian peacekeepers have demonstrated a high-level of professionalism and dedication wherever they serve. We are deeply grateful for their continued service,” Mr. Lacroix said.
“The UN will never forget the sacrifice of the eight Peruvian peacekeepers who lost their lives over the years while serving under the UN flag since 1958,” Mr. Lacroix added.
Peru also endorsed the Secretary-General’s ‘Action for Peacekeeping (A4P)’ initiative, which aims to refocus peacekeeping with more targeted mandates, make operations stronger and safer, and mobilize support for political solutions and better equipped and trained forces.
Note to editors:
The UN's Department of Global Communications, in collaboration with the Department of Peace Operations, runs the international multi-year communications campaign titled 'UN Peacekeeping -- Service and Sacrifice.' The campaign expresses the world body's gratitude to the countries that contribute their uniformed men and women to serve in the peacekeeping missions. https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/service-and-sacrifice
Since 1948, more than a million women and men have served as UN peacekeepers. Every day, they make a tangible difference in the lives of millions of the world’s most vulnerable people. Peacekeeping is a unique force with military and police from over 120 countries serving together, alongside civilian personnel. UN peacekeepers come from diverse cultures and speak different languages but share a common purpose: the protection of vulnerable communities and the provision of support to countries struggling to move from conflict to peace. Tragically some make the ultimate sacrifice - over 3,500 peacekeepers have lost their lives in the cause of peace. https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/what-is-peacekeeping
Action for Peacekeeping: https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/action-for-peacekeeping-a4p
Media enquiries in Peru:
Juan Pablo Casapia Boero, United Nations Information Center in Lima: juan.casapiaboero@un.org
Media enquiries at UNHQ
Douglas Coffman, Department of Global Communications: coffmand@un.org