13:35, 29 May 2025
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
The 29th May marks International Day of UN Peacekeepers and before images from The Hunger Games come to your mind, we want to share why today is such an underrated awareness day.
Let’s start with defining what a UN peacekeeper is. Their role is to act as military or civilian personnel deployed by the United Nations to help maintain peace and security in conflict-affected areas.
From monitoring ceasefires, protecting civilians to supporting the delivery of humanitarian aid, their role is essential to the work of the UN and acting as a global intergovernmental organisation.
Acting as a peaceful agent and helping to prevent the resurgence of violence, supporting the rebuilding of stable societies, and promoting long-term peace and development in regions recovering from conflict.
Smiley News reached out to the UN Peacekeeping division, and was able to secure an interview with Sari Rautarinta, a United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Peacekeeper currently deployed within South Sudan.
My first UN mission started in 2007 with the African Union - United Nations Hybrid Operation, in Sudan. It may sound naïve, but after 15 years in various tasks in Finnish police, I wanted to utilize my professional expertise and academic education in an international setting and felt that the UN was the best place to do so. I guess that I thought I could save the world as they say! I soon realized that I couldn’t. But equally as fast, I realized that I do leave a mark on every person I meet. That mark is either good or bad, superficial or substantial. I decided to try and make it substantial and good, one person at a time.
A big part of my first mission was my interaction with fellow UN colleagues. Not a day went by that I did not think (or say aloud) “I have never heard/seen that before!” It made me reevaluate some things that I was raised with and took for granted. Simple things like clean drinking water, ideas like keeping your word, and more complex ones. I realized how all these equally affect the lives of people around the world. These problems also make it so challenging to “fix things” or to ”rebuild” a state, at least within the timeframe of our UN mandate. Now, after four peacekeeping deployments, I still find leading training with communities and national police to be the most impactful thing I do. There is nothing more inspiring than seeing the light turn on in participants' eyes.
One of my proudest moments took place following a two-week “Training of Trainers” when a local police General turned to me with tears in his eyes and said: “You made me want to be a better policeman.” I hope he remembers those thoughts when making decisions involving people’s rights and lives.
Organizationally, I have not experienced challenges, but, as a woman, some of the missions I’ve been deployed with have been very stressful physically. For example, when spending days and weeks at Internally Displaced Persons camps or delivering training at local police stations. The infrastructure is often not only bad, but non-existent. I couldn’t drink nor eat in +40 C heat and was constantly dehydrated. It was not good for my health, or anyone's health. There were days where I felt that nothing worked or moved forward and was seriously doubting the value of my work, but there were more of those days that you could see that your work positively impacted something bigger than yourself.
The contribution of peacekeeping missions really starts on the basic level with every encounter that peacekeepers have with local counterparts. Peacekeepers’ presence helps boost the local economy. This impacts access to food, health care, school uniforms and education for the families and children. Education means hope for a better future for the next generations in the country. At the same time, all the capabilities and training that a peacekeeping mission provides to host state officials like police will make them better in their work. Their skills and knowledge will in time turn into an accountable, independent host state that serves and protects their citizens.
Peace begins with me because I leave a mark on every person, I meet... Peace is built one person, one village, one state at a time. Big ideas are realized bits and pieces at time!
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Amnesty International. This global NGO is focused on upholding human rights around the world. Find out more.
Peace Direct. This international organisation supports local peacebuilders in conflict zones to stop violence and build sustainable peace. Learn more here.
Saferworld. This independent organisation has worked for over 35 years on preventing violent conflict and supporting efforts to make sure people are able to be safe in their country. Support them here.
This article aligns with the UN Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
Images in this article are copyrighted to Sari Rautarinta and Nektarios Markogiannis/UNMISS.
