Few civilians would know it, but there is a lot more to a medal parade ceremony, a frequent occurrence in any peacekeeping mission, than the handing out of pieces of suitably engraved metal.
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![India medal parade peacekeepers UNMISS South Sudan protection of civilians 29 June 2018](https://unmiss.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/styles/380x220/public/field/image/indian_medal_parade_malakal_2_july_2018_-_photo1.jpg?itok=Wrphe7Rn)
Hundreds of Indian peacekeepers in Upper Nile have received UN medals for their outstanding service.
![unmiss south sudan portugal unpol peacekeeping juba june 2018 protection of civilians](https://unmiss.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/styles/380x220/public/field/image/portuguese_unpols_28_june_2018.jpg?itok=uNPqNUtl)
Portugal has just sent its first contingent of police officers to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
![south sudan unmiss spla child soldiers list of shame delisting unicef child protection unit child-free army 29 June 2018](https://unmiss.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/styles/380x220/public/field/image/more_than_200_child_soldiers_released_in_pibor_reintegrating_them_remains_big_challenge_18_may_2018_-_photo1.jpg?itok=paxIDH8H)
Last month more than 200 child soldiers were released in Pibor. SPLA has recommitted to make its army child-free.
![unmiss peacekeeping malakal bentiu medal parade british uk south sudan engineers 26 july 2018](https://unmiss.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/styles/380x220/public/field/image/british_medal_parade_28_june_2018_-_photo1.jpg?itok=HM61z9VG)
Some 140 British peacekeepers have received UN medals for their dedicated work in South Sudan.
![unmiss south sudan police rwanda fpu 27 june 2018 arrival gender equality protection of civilians juba](https://unmiss.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/styles/380x220/public/field/image/perfectly_gender_balanced_rwandan_formed_police_unit_arrives_in_juba_27_june_2018_-_photo1.jpg?itok=AKOcCBXl)
On Wednesday 27 June, a Rwandan Formed Police Unit consisting of 50 per cent women arrived in Juba.