United Nations Volunteers: International Day of Peace 2008

Volunteerism and its role in peace and development

Bonn, Germany: There is a general acceptance that there can be no lasting peace without development, as the UN General Assembly declared in 2004. Thus the International Day of Peace on 21 September is a chance to contemplate this year's theme, 'Peacekeeping and Human Rights', and the role that development and volunteerism play in both. Read

More about: Civil society Gender Governance Human rights Peace & conflict resolution

UNV volunteer Mileydi Guilarte (left) from the USA works as a Human Rights Officer for UNMIT in Timor-Leste. "I just had to get involved - I didn't have a choice," she says. (UNV)

Providing protection: Human Rights Officers

UNV volunteer Human Rights Officers and Advisors work across the UN's peacekeeping missions, helping to restore mutual respect among populations traumatized by war. Read

More about: Human rights Peace & conflict resolution

Countries: Côte d'Ivoire Timor-Leste

UNV volunteer Marie Madeleine Tchouente from Cameroon works as an IT Assistant for MINURCAT in Chad. "To be a volunteer means to be a forerunner... It is transforming people's lives by showing them something new. (UNV)

The support network: IT assistants

Of all the UNV volunteers working within UN peacekeeping missions, the Information Technology (IT) people are possibly the least celebrated. But without them, mission support might break down entirely. Read

More about: Peace & conflict resolution

UNV volunteer Sophie Picavet from France works as a Civil Affairs Officer for MINUSTAH in Haiti. "To be a volunteer is to enjoy a light feeling of freedom," she says. (UNV)

Eyes and ears: Civil and Political Affairs Officers

UNV volunteer Political and Civil Affairs Officers are an interface between the UN peacekeeping missions to which they are assigned, and the country at large. The reports they produce help the local government and UN mission understand potential causes of violence. Read

More about: Governance Peace & conflict resolution

"I employ the diplomatic and persuasion skills that I learnt in law school to convince the officials to do the right thing in the right manner," says UNV volunteer Judicial Systems Monitor Ann Nyambura Kithaka. (UNV)

Restoring the rule of law: Judicial Systems Monitors

Justice is a keystone in building sustainable peace and democracy. UNV volunteer Judicial Systems Monitors bring wide-ranging expertise and a hands-on attitude to countries where the rule of law must be restored: only then can peace and human rights be fully secured. Read

More about: Governance Peace & conflict resolution

UNV volunteer Tony Mushimbele from the DRC works as a Receiving and Inspection Unit Assistant for UNMIS in Sudan. "I realize now that there is something I can do for this population and it is my responsibility to identify what to do to make this experience great for me and people around me," he says. (UNV)

Desert storemen: Supply chain assistants

An army marches on its stomach, goes the saying, and an efficient supply chain is the backbone of any UN peacekeeping mission. Behind the scenes, UNV volunteers are making sure that the right people get the right equipment and everything is accounted for. Read

More about: Peace & conflict resolution

UNV volunteer Ayokunle Dada is helping improve the water supply in Liberia. "The battle against mortality associated with unsafe drinking water in my continent has to be won," he says. (UNV)

A refreshing challenge: Water and Sanitation Engineers

Without clean water, no UN peacekeeping mission would last longer than a few days. Since post-conflict countries often have disrupted and dysfunctional water supplies and limited stocks for peacekeepers, the contributions of UNV volunteer Water and Sanitation Engineers are vital. Read

More about: Peace & conflict resolution

Countries: Liberia

UNV volunteer Nurse Cristina Carlos work at UNMIT in Timor-Leste. "I volunteered with UNV simply because it made sense," she says. (UNV)

A healthy contribution: Medical staff

Highly-qualified and experienced UNV volunteers make up significant proportions of the medical personnel attached to UN peacekeeping missions, helping keep staff fit and healthy and offering their skills to the populace too. From doctors and nurses to pharmacists, radiographers and staff counsellors, these UNV volunteers perform every medical role imaginable. Read

More about: HIV/AIDS Health Peace & conflict resolution

Volunteerism for women's rights advocated at major gathering

Paris, France: A UNV volunteer has addressed delegates at a major international conference on how volunteerism has put gender issues into Kosovo's wider security debate. Read

More about: Gender

Countries: France Kosovo

About us What we do How to volunteer News & resources Volunteer Voices Partners		Fact sheets UNV Programme Strategy Overview: Volunteerism for Peace and Development 21 March 2013 Peacekeeping perspectives Read more here Emmanuel Bryma Momoh, Sierra Leone, Human Rights Officer, UNMIL Mileydi Guilarte, USA, Human Rights Officer, UNMIT Ann Nyambura Kithaka, Kenya, Judicial Systems Monitor, UNMIL Claire Whelan, Norway, Political Affairs Officer, UNMIK Eliana Rueda, Colombia, Civil Affairs Officer, MINURCAT Lubna Abdalla Lasu, Sudan, Civil Affairs Officer, UNMIS Samuel Ebo Baiden, Ghana, Air Operations Centre Duty Officer, UNMIL Theophilus Obie Andrew, Liberia, Logistics Assistant, MINURCAT Pierre Millimouno, Guinea, Training Officer, ONUCI Rex Castro Jr., The Philippines, Software Developer, BINUB
You are here: Home > Current highlight > International Day of Peace 2008
World Health Day	UN Volunteers and their role in peacekeeping The International Day of Peace, celebrated on 21 September, has a special significance in 2008. It marks both the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 60th anniversary of UN peacekeeping, which is why this year's Peace Day is themed 'Human Rights and Peacekeeping'. Though it is the 'Blue Helmets' that are the face of United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), behind the scenes are thousands of civilian staff supporting them. They are an integral and essential component of the complex tasks of rebuilding and reconstruction after conflict. Read on below to discover the variety of roles UN Volunteers play in supporting human rights and peacekeeping missions worldwide. Volunteerism and its role in peace and development Bonn, Germany: There is a general acceptance that there can be no lasting peace without development, as the UN General Assembly declared in 2004. Thus the International Day of Peace on 21 September is a chance to contemplate this year's theme, 'Peacekeeping and Human Rights', and the role that development and volunteerism play in both. Read More about: Civil society Gender Governance Human rights Peace & conflict resolution Providing protection: Human Rights Officers UNV volunteer Human Rights Officers and Advisors work across the UN's peacekeeping missions, helping to restore mutual respect among populations traumatized by war. Read More about: Human rights Peace & conflict resolution Countries: Côte d'Ivoire Timor-Leste The support network: IT assistants Of all the UNV volunteers working within UN peacekeeping missions, the Information Technology (IT) people are possibly the least celebrated. But without them, mission support might break down entirely. Read More about: Peace & conflict resolution Eyes and ears: Civil and Political Affairs Officers UNV volunteer Political and Civil Affairs Officers are an interface between the UN peacekeeping missions to which they are assigned, and the country at large. The reports they produce help the local government and UN mission understand potential causes of violence. Read More about: Governance Peace & conflict resolution Restoring the rule of law: Judicial Systems Monitors Justice is a keystone in building sustainable peace and democracy. UNV volunteer Judicial Systems Monitors bring wide-ranging expertise and a hands-on attitude to countries where the rule of law must be restored: only then can peace and human rights be fully secured. Read More about: Governance Peace & conflict resolution Desert storemen: Supply chain assistants An army marches on its stomach, goes the saying, and an efficient supply chain is the backbone of any UN peacekeeping mission. Behind the scenes, UNV volunteers are making sure that the right people get the right equipment and everything is accounted for. Read More about: Peace & conflict resolution A refreshing challenge: Water and Sanitation Engineers Without clean water, no UN peacekeeping mission would last longer than a few days. Since post-conflict countries often have disrupted and dysfunctional water supplies and limited stocks for peacekeepers, the contributions of UNV volunteer Water and Sanitation Engineers are vital. Read More about: Peace & conflict resolution Countries: Liberia A healthy contribution: Medical staff Highly-qualified and experienced UNV volunteers make up significant proportions of the medical personnel attached to UN peacekeeping missions, helping keep staff fit and healthy and offering their skills to the populace too. From doctors and nurses to pharmacists, radiographers and staff counsellors, these UNV volunteers perform every medical role imaginable. Read More about: HIV/AIDS Health Peace & conflict resolution Volunteerism for women's rights advocated at major gathering Paris, France: A UNV volunteer has addressed delegates at a major international conference on how volunteerism has put gender issues into Kosovo's wider security debate. Read More about: Gender Countries: France Kosovo Print page

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