STATEMENT: International Day of Peace

LINDA REYNOLDS Minister for Defence Senator for Western Australia “SHAPING PEACE TOGETHER” 2020 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE Today on International Day of Peace we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening the ideals of peace. This year’s theme, Shaping Peace Together, recognises the interconnectedness of our global community. Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds highlighted Australia’s commitment to upholding these values. “As we celebrate 75 years since the establishment of the United Nations, I recognise the ADF’s proud history in UN Peacekeeping, and our ongoing efforts to build and restore peace,” Reynolds said. “Australians have served proudly in peacekeeping missions since 1947 including by supporting peace operations in Cambodia, Bougainville, Timor Leste and Solomon Islands. “Australia continues to build on this legacy through our peacekeeping partnerships across the Indo-Pacific.” This includes adapting the biennial Australia-Thailand peacekeeping activity Exercise PIRAP JABIRU to a virtual format due to COVID-19, working with the UN and international partners to provide airlift for peacekeeper contingents, and strengthening information sharing among regional peacekeeping centres. “At this critical time when the list of challenges to peace is growing, we continue to work alongside the UN toward international peace and security,” Reynolds said.  “This includes strengthening UN peacekeeping performance and overcoming barriers to women’s participation in peace operations.” Defence’s support to international peace has included ADF deployments to peacekeeping operations, provision of expertise to support investigations into sexual exploitation and abuse, and the appointment of MAJGEN Cheryl Pearce as the Force Commander to the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus. For further information about Australia’s contribution to UN Peacekeeping, please visit: https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/peacekeeping. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Director of Sales Graham Joss at [email protected]