Mr. President of the General Assembly, Senhor Presidente da República Portuguesa, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

Every year on 21 September, the United Nations invites people around the world to celebrate peace by observing 24 hours of ceasefire and non-violence.

The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers honors the more than one million women and men who have served on the frontlines of conflict and the more than 4,000 who have lost their lives in the line of duty.