Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 20th July. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, President of the General Assembly Csaba Kőrösi and other senior officials and diplomats on Wednesday paid tribute to 77 members of staff who died in the line of duty in 2022.
Mr. Guterres said at the solemn ceremony that “We are here to mourn together, to remember together, and to pay our respects together,” held in the Trusteeship Council chamber at UN Headquarters in New York.
Many relatives of the fallen personnel, members of the diplomatic community and UN staff from around the world attended the event, both in-person and online.
President of the UN General Csaba Kőrösi and the Security Council President for July, British Ambassador to the UN Barbara Woodward lit a candle represented an eternal flame.
Mr. Guterres called for a minute of silence “for all our dear, dear colleagues that have given their lives for others to be able to live.”
The names of the 77 military, police and civilian personnel who died serving the Organization last year were read out at the ceremony.
Mr. Guterres said these men and women, who came from 36 countries, were both colleagues and friends.
“Their service embodied the principle and the promise of the United Nations: The principle of our common humanity and the promise to act on it – to work together to solve shared challenges, and build a world of peace, prosperity and human rights for all,” he said.
He underscored how UN staff “breathe life into the noble vision” each day, and frequently in difficult conditions, such as peacekeepers and humanitarian aid workers.
“Yet whatever their role, and whatever the circumstance, all those we honour today dedicated themselves to others,” he said.
“Their courage saved lives, their commitment safeguarded those in need and their expertise helped to build a better world – now and in the future.”
Mr. Guterres noted that in a divided and dangerous world, the vision and values that the UN flag represents are more important than ever.
He committed to the UN’s essential mission, in honor of those who gave their lives in service to the Organization.
“We pledge to keep supporting families. We commit to continually review and improve the safety, care and wellbeing of our staff. And we vow to keep the memories of our fallen colleagues alive: In our thoughts, in our hearts, and in our work to build a life of dignity and hope for all,” he concluded.
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