Over the past 75 years, more than two million UN peacekeepers have helped countries navigate the difficult path from war to peace. We are ordinary people striving to overcome enormous challenges to build peace. We are not alone in the pursuit of peace. We work alongside partners globally, and in the countries we serve. The legacy of our peacekeepers, past and present, and the resilience of the communities we work with, inspires us all to take action in the knowledge that #PeaceBegins with me.

Established in 1948, the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) was the first-ever peacekeeping operation established by the UN. Since then, UNTSO military observers have remained in the Middle East to monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating, and assist other UN peacekeeping operations in the region to fulfill their respective mandates. On 29 May 2023 - the International Day of UN Peacekeepers - we mark the 75th anniversary of this important peace operation. It is also an opportunity to recognise the value and impact of UN Peacekeeping globally.