Commemorating May 29 of Each Year as International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers in the Philippines

April 16, 2009

PROCLAMATION NO. 1755

COMMEMORATING MAY 29 OF EACH YEAR AS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPERS IN THE PHILIPPINES

WHEREAS, by Resolution 57/129 of 11 December 2002, The United Nations General Assembly designated May 29 as the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, to pay tribute to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in United Nations peacekeeping operations, for their high level of professionalism, dedication and courage, and to honor the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace;

WHEREAS, by Resolution 57/129, the United Nations General Assembly also invited all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, non-government organizations and individuals to observe the Day in an appropriate manner;

WHEREAS, the Philippines has been consistent in its support for United Nations peacekeeping operations beginning with the deployment in 1963 of an air force fighter squadron in support of the United Nations Mission in the Congo and the participation since then of Philippine military and police personnel in United Nations peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan, Burundi, Cambodia, Cote d'lvoire, Georgia, Haiti, Iraq, Kosovo, Liberia, Nepal, Sudan and Timor-Leste;

WHEREAS, as many as sixteen Filipino peacekeepers have given up their lives to help bring peace in conflict areas abroad;

WHEREAS, the Philippines has underscored its commitment to support United Nations peacekeeping operations by signing the Memorandum of Understanding that would allow the Philippines to participate in the United Nations Standby Arrangement System (UNSAS);

WHEREAS, the Policy Framework and Guidelines on Philippine Participation in United Nations Peace Operations as revised under Executive Order 97, which created the Inter-Agency Council on United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, calls for the declaration of May 29 as International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers in the Philippines;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. May 29 of every year is hereby declared as International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers in the Philippines.

SECTION 2. The Inter-Agency Council on United Nations Peace Operations, with the Secretary of Foreign Affairs as chair and the Secretary of National Defense and the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government as members, shall lead the annual commemoration in the Philippines of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.

SECTION 3. The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police shall honor Filipino Peacekeepers by participating in the annual commemoration of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 16th day of April, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Nine.