Dag Hammarskjöld Medal
Encyclopedia
The Dag Hammarskjöld Medal is a posthumous award given by the United Nations
(UN) to military personnel, police, or civilians who lose their lives while serving in a United Nations peacekeeping
operation. The medal is named after Dag Hammarskjöld
, the second Secretary-General of the United Nations; Hammarskjöld died in a plane crash in 1961.
unanimously adopted Resolution 1121
, in which it established the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal. In the resolution, the Security Council also requested that the UN Secretary-General establish criteria and procedures for the awarding of the medal. The first medals were awarded in October 1998.
, the UN Secretary-General, published regulations for the awarding of the medal. The award is given to any military personnel, police, or civilians who lose their lives while serving in a United Nations peacekeeping
operation, so long as the death did not result from misconduct or criminal acts. The criteria came into force on 1 January 2001 and the medal may be given to individuals who qualified before or after that date. The physical medals are presented to the next of kin of the deceased recipient.
, engraved with the name and date of death of the recipient, the United Nations logo, and the inscription “The Dag Hammarskjöld Medal. In the Service of Peace”, in English and French.
, René de Labarrière
, and Folke Bernadotte
. Beginning in 2001, the UN began awarding dozens of medals each month for the UN peacekeepers who had been killed between 1948 and 2001. Since 2001, there have been an annual medal ceremony for those who were killed in UN peacekeeping operations the previous year. The ceremony is held on 29 May, which is the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
.
In 2009, the medal was awarded to each of the 132 UN peacekeepers who were killed in 2008.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
(UN) to military personnel, police, or civilians who lose their lives while serving in a United Nations peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
operation. The medal is named after Dag Hammarskjöld
Dag Hammarskjöld
Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjöld was a Swedish diplomat, economist, and author. An early Secretary-General of the United Nations, he served from April 1953 until his death in a plane crash in September 1961. He is the only person to have been awarded a posthumous Nobel Peace Prize. Hammarskjöld...
, the second Secretary-General of the United Nations; Hammarskjöld died in a plane crash in 1961.
Creation of medal
On 22 July 1997, during its 3802nd meeting, the United Nations Security CouncilUnited Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
unanimously adopted Resolution 1121
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1121
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1111, adopted unanimously on July 22, 1997, after recalling that the maintenance of international peace and security was one of the main purposes of the United Nations, the Council established the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal, named after the second...
, in which it established the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal. In the resolution, the Security Council also requested that the UN Secretary-General establish criteria and procedures for the awarding of the medal. The first medals were awarded in October 1998.
Criteria
On 1 December 2000, Kofi AnnanKofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
, the UN Secretary-General, published regulations for the awarding of the medal. The award is given to any military personnel, police, or civilians who lose their lives while serving in a United Nations peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
operation, so long as the death did not result from misconduct or criminal acts. The criteria came into force on 1 January 2001 and the medal may be given to individuals who qualified before or after that date. The physical medals are presented to the next of kin of the deceased recipient.
Medal
The medal is egg-shaped and made of clear lead glassLead glass
Lead glass is a variety of glass in which lead replaces the calcium content of a typical potash glass. Lead glass contains typically 18–40 weight% lead oxide , while modern lead crystal, historically also known as flint glass due to the original silica source, contains a minimum of 24% PbO...
, engraved with the name and date of death of the recipient, the United Nations logo, and the inscription “The Dag Hammarskjöld Medal. In the Service of Peace”, in English and French.
Recipients
On 6 October 1998, the first three Dag Hammarskjöld Medals were awarded to Dag HammarskjöldDag Hammarskjöld
Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjöld was a Swedish diplomat, economist, and author. An early Secretary-General of the United Nations, he served from April 1953 until his death in a plane crash in September 1961. He is the only person to have been awarded a posthumous Nobel Peace Prize. Hammarskjöld...
, René de Labarrière
René de Labarrière
René de Labarrière was a French army officer, considered to be the first United Nations soldier killed in action. He died in Palestine after driving over a land mine....
, and Folke Bernadotte
Folke Bernadotte
Folke Bernadotte, Count of Wisborg was a Swedish diplomat and nobleman noted for his negotiation of the release of about 31,000 prisoners from German concentration camps during World War II, including 450 Danish Jews from Theresienstadt released on 14 April 1945...
. Beginning in 2001, the UN began awarding dozens of medals each month for the UN peacekeepers who had been killed between 1948 and 2001. Since 2001, there have been an annual medal ceremony for those who were killed in UN peacekeeping operations the previous year. The ceremony is held on 29 May, which is the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
The "International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers", May 29, is "a day 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...
.
In 2009, the medal was awarded to each of the 132 UN peacekeepers who were killed in 2008.