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 Day of the Peacekeeper 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.
The purpose of the comprehensive 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.
Event: International Day of UN Peacekeepers
The German Day of the Peacekeeper is derived from the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers – an annual event held by the United Nations since 2002 as a tribute to the commitment of UN personnel in peace operations.
The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers is held each year on 29 May and commemorates the beginning of the first international peacekeeping operation in 1948.
Day of the Peacekeeper 2021
The eighth German Day of the Peacekeeper was held on 23 June 2021 as a virtual event hosted by the Federal Ministry of Defence. During that event, the following persons were honoured for their dedication and their service in the context of international peace operations.
- Senior Chief Petty Officer (Stabsbootsmann) Michael Pantke, MINUSMA Mali
- Chief Inspector (Polizeioberkommissar) Axel Rehbehn, UNSOM Somalia
- Annett Gerber, OSCE SMM Ukraine
If you would like to find out more about the day-to-day work of our civilian experts in peace operations, further information is available on our webpage including pictures, films and brief profiles here.
A Look Back at Past Events
Overview of Previous Days of the Peacekeeper
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
