The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2823 on June 23, 2026, aimed at strengthening accountability for crimes committed against UN peacekeepers. The resolution, co-authored by Pakistan and Denmark, received support from all 15 Council members and was co-sponsored by more than 100 UN member states.
Key Provisions of the Resolution
Resolution 2823 condemns all attacks against UN peacekeepers and pays tribute to personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty. It stresses that attacks against peacekeepers may constitute war crimes and highlights accountability as a key tool to deter future violence and improve the safety and security of UN missions. The text calls on relevant stakeholders to cooperate with the UN in pursuing accountability and reiterates the responsibility of host countries to investigate such crimes and bring perpetrators to justice in accordance with national and international law.
Statistics on Peacekeeper Casualties
According to the UN, as many as 1,095 peacekeepers have been killed in malicious acts since 1948, including 359 since 2013, while several thousand others have been injured. The resolution introduces practical measures to strengthen existing accountability mechanisms, including annual reporting by the UN secretary-general on investigations and prosecutions related to killings and violence against peacekeepers.
Statements from Co-Authors
Pakistan's UN envoy Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said ahead of the vote: "This draft resolution seeks to move the council beyond statements condemning these attacks. Council's pronouncements are important, condolences are necessary, but they are not enough." Following the vote, Ahmad expressed gratitude to all Security Council members for the consensual adoption, thanking Denmark for their strong partnership as the Council's “peacekeeping duo.”
Denmark's UN envoy Christina Markus Lassen welcomed the resolution's adoption, stating: "The unanimous support for this resolution sends a strong and important message to the over 50,000 personnel currently serving in peacekeeping missions." She added that Denmark was pleased to work closely with Pakistan on the initiative as part of their cooperation on peacekeeping issues within the Security Council.
Background and Significance
The resolution underscores the need to investigate and prosecute attacks targeting personnel serving in peace operations. Across several missions, attacks against United Nations peacekeepers have increased in number and sophistication. The resolution aims to bolster the Council's political attention and UN machinery in response to crimes committed against peacekeepers, going beyond expressions of concern to implement practical measures for accountability.
