Protecting civilians is the ultimate goal of UN Peacekeeping;  according to the chief of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), Jean-Pierre Lacroix.  He was speaking ahead of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers observed annually on 29 May. The French diplomat took up his position in April this year and currently oversees 16 UN operations deployed in four continents. Nearly all of the peacekeeping missions operate in the most dangerous and difficult environments in the world, dealing with conflict – or the aftermath.