International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
May 29

Read:
Matthew 5:9 (3 Nephi 12:9)

Explain:
This day pays tribute to the men and women who have served in UN peacekeeping operations, some of whom have lost their lives in the cause of peace. UN peacekeepers are soldiers or civilians who help maintain peace in areas where armed conflict has recently ended. Peacekeepers aid in political transitions and economic reconstruction, supervise elections, disarm militias, distribute humanitarian aid, and resettle refugees. Today, there are 53,000 UN peacekeepers, most of them serving in Africa. In 2004, peacekeeping cost the United Nations more than $4 billion--but that is less than one half of 1 per cent of the world’s combined military spending.

Pray:

• Give thanks for peace and political stability.
• Pray for UN peacekeepers and for the people they serve.
• Pray that countries will find non-violent solutions to conflict.