[AS DELIVERED]

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Honourable Deng Dau Deng,

Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Community,

My fellow UN Colleagues and Peacekeepers,

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to UN House on this International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.

Today, we honour the more than two million women and men who have served as United Nations peacekeepers since 1948.

This year, the theme of the International Peacekeepers’ Day — Peace Begins with Me – is particularly significant as we mark 75 years of UN Peacekeeping.

The women and men in the United Nations extend themselves to work in difficult conditions to achieve extraordinary outcomes for the communities we serve.

In South Sudan, we are grateful to the nearly 14000 military, 1500 police, and 2600 civilians – including nearly 400 UN Volunteers, serving with dedication and professionalism under the UN flag to protect civilians.

Our diversity remains our strength. The uniformed personnel alone come from 76 different countries – with a variety of different languages and cultures. They serve in support of common ideals, international and regional peace under the values of the UN Charter and the symbol of the UN flag.

Distinguished guests and colleagues,

At UNMISS, our top priority is to help South Sudan advance political solutions at national and subnational levels in order to achieve sustainable peace and development, stability and democracy they themselves have set out in the peace agreement forged between the South Sudanese themselves.

And we particularly see 2023 as a critical year for this nation to implement the Roadmap for fulfilling the commitment in the Peace Agreement.

As South Sudan undertakes its constitution making and prepares for free, fair, and credible elections, our role is to facilitate these processes for a peaceful transition. To this end, we contribute in many different ways.

UNMISS and UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes help strengthen the rule of law and accountability institutions inter alia by supporting the deployment of ad hoc courts, especially to hard-to-reach areas, and sharing best practices.

Our human rights team monitors and sensitizes relevant national bodies to prevent human rights violations.

We patrol and maintain bases to protect civilians. We deliver and guarantee the delivery of humanitarian aid across the country.

We construct and maintain roads and dykes which help to improve living conditions and prevent loss of lives and property to perennial floods, especially in Bentiu and other areas across the country.

Peacekeepers build enduring partnerships with local communities and authorities, including traditional leaders, government counterparts, politicians, law enforcement personnel, military actors, women, children, and the larger civil society for the cause of peace and progress. To render our objectives more effectively, we also work with partners in the international community including the African Union, IGAD, European Union, Troika, and other international partners so that South Sudanese eventually can be masters of their common destiny. We would want to believe that this spirit of partnerships characterizes our efforts everywhere.

Distinguished guests and colleagues,

I would like to pay my respects to the Government of National Unity and the people of the Republic of South Sudan. As your partner for peace, we appreciate and need your support for the work of the United Nations in South Sudan. 

Despite mounting challenges, including from the recent Sudan crisis and the impact of the global economic downturn, you all have a role to play in shaping a brighter, more stable future. UNMISS is here to be a part of the solution. And we will not take our eyes off the ball even in face of the crisis in Sudan.

On today’s International Day of UN Peacekeepers, I would like to thank and honour all colleagues; uniformed and civilians, across the country and in all functions — for your sacrifice, strength, courage, and commitment in standing by this country and its people in their journey from war to peace.

As shown in the recent public perception survey, the majority of the people of South Sudan appreciate our presence and our work, especially the safety, security, and the protection that we provide.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Sadly, some of our colleagues have paid the ultimate price while in service here in UNMISS. I take this opportunity to pay particular tribute to the 124 peacekeepers who passed on while in service of peace since the inception of UNMISS.

To honor and remember them, I inaugurated a Memorial Garden in UN House early on today. We will observe a minute of silence in their honour in today’s proceedings.

Their legacy is to inspire us all to serve more effectively in the knowledge that peace has a price, and it begins with every one of us.

Thank you.