Updated: 07 May, 2006

United Nations

• Medals of the United Nations (Official Website) (Aug 02)

• Dag Hammarskjold Medal - Lewis Nelson, the award-winning American designer, has been selected to design the Dag Hammarskjold Medal, which was approved by the Security Council last July (1997) as a tribute to the sacrifice of military and civilian peacekeeping personnel who have lost their lives as a result of service in peacekeeping operations. On 6 July, 1998 as part of the 50th anniversary of United Nations Peacekeeping, the Secretary-General presented the Dag Hammarskjold medal to the families of Dag Hammarskjold and of Commandant Rene de Labarriere, the first peacekeeper killed, as well as of Count Folke Bernadotte. All three lost their lives during United Nations missions. The medal will be presented to all the military and civilian peacekeeping personnel who had perished during peacekeeping missions, who altogether numbered 1,586. (Ref: UN Daily Press Briefing by Office of spokeman for Secretary-General,6 July, 1998 and 30 September, 1998) For complete details on the medal, see (ST/SGB/2000/15) (pdf file) UN honours 108 Canadians who died as peacekeepers The United Nations recognized the 108 Canadians who had lost their lives during UN peacekeeping missions by the end of 2001 -- a death toll suffered by no other country. All 108 were awarded the Dag Hammarskjold Medal, named for the Swedish UN Secretary-General who died in a plane crash while on a peace mission in 1961 in the Congo. On the plane with him had been Alice Lalande, a Canadian political officer, whose name was among the 108 honoured yesterday. The ceremony recognized a total of 720 people from 37 countries who died while on UN peace missions.) (May 02) UN Grants Posthumous Medal To Pak Army Officer The United Nations has granted posthumous, the Dag Hammarskjold Medal, to Pakistan Army Captain Abrar Ahmed who lost his life on April 28, 2002, while serving with the UN Mission inSierra Leone (UNAMSIL). Pakistan News Service, Pakistan - 29 May 2003

• Medals of the World: United Nations (Megan C. Robertson)

• UN Medals (As awarded to Canadians) (Veterans Affairs Canada)

• United Nations Medals (David Devine (Rusty Knight)) 

• UN Medals (Specific to UK) (Britain's Small Wars)

• UN Korea Medal (Britain's Small Wars)

• UN Peacekeeping Operations (List of current and past operations) (UN Website)

  • UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

• UN Security Council Documents (Listing and Search facilities)

• Liberia - ECOMOG Officers Leave Liberia - The last batch of West African peacekeepers (ECOMOG) who participated in the weapons destruction project in Liberia this effort -- and there were 56 of them -- are leaving the country, and a special ceremony was held at Liberia's Executive Mansion to mark their departure. On behalf of the Secretary-General, his Special Representative in Liberia, Felix C. Downes-Thomas, accepted the Presidential Medal of Honour, which was delivered by the President of Liberia, to "the United Nations, and particularly the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL)". It was awarded in recognition of "their sacrificial and dedicated services towards our peacekeeping and peace-building efforts". Seven officers of the West African peacekeeping force were decorated with the Distinguished Service Officers Medal, while ambassadors from ECOWAS troop-contributing countries to that force were presented with the Presidential Medal of Honour. (Ref: UN Daily Press Briefing by Office of spokesman for Secretary-General, 21 October, 1999)

• UN Secretary-General receives Czech Medal - The Secretary-General flew from Slovakia to the Czech Republic this morning (16 July, 1999). He began his official visit in Prague by meeting with Foreign Minister Jan Kavan. They discussed the implementation of the Security Council resolution on Kosovo, as well as United Nations reform and financing. The Secretary-General then returned to the Foreign Ministry, where he received the Jan Masaryk Commemorative Medal, named for the former Czech Foreign Minister who led his country's delegation to the San Francisco Conference that drafted the United Nations Charter. (Ref: UN Daily Press Briefing by Office of spokeman for Secretary-General,16 July, 1999)

• UN Secretary General Awarded Guatemala Medal - The Secretary-General met with President Alvaro Arzú Irigoyen of Guatemala, who decorated the Secretary-General with the medal of the Queztal Order, the highest honour the Government could bestow on a civilian. (Ref: UN Daily Press Briefing by Office of spokeman for Secretary-General,20 July, 1998)

• UNHCR Commissioner Awarded Guatemala Medal - The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata, was on her way back from Guatemala, where she was awarded the Medal of Peace by the Guatemalan President. . (Ref: UN Daily Press Briefing by Office of spokeman for Secretary-General,2 December, 1997)

• The United Nations Special Service Medal - Both Britain and Canada have recently authorized their peacekeepers, who qualify for this award, to accept and wear this medal.

• UN Medals for Haiti (UNSMI/UNSMIH/UNTMIH) - Bars -  The following information was received recently from Scott Laird. "What is interesting about the UNSMIH (UN Support Mission In Haiti) medal is that I wear the UNMIH (UN Mission In Haiti) ribbon with a bronze UNSMIH bar. The Haiti medal is one of the very few UN medals with bars. There are three bars for this medal: UNMIH, UNSMIH and UNTMIH (UN Transition Mission In Haiti) . Apparently as the Haiti missions unfolded and they changed the mandate they would change the name of the mission. Well, with every UN mandate a new medal ribbon is created. This happened in Cambodia and Rwanda. Some personnel went home with two medals in a six month period because they changed the name of the mission. So I think the UN tried to prevent that in Haiti by keeping the original UNMIH ribbon and creating bars to identify service with the follow on missions. Another twist to this story occured when,as usual, the UN notified Canada of the institution of a new UN medal ribbon and Canada dutifully added the medal to the Canadian honours system. However the UN forgot to mention the bars. So, technically the UN bars for the UNMIH medal are not authorized for wear by CF members! I got this info from an RCMP member who tried to apply for his bars when he returned to Canada from Haiti. (He served with two missions UNSMIH and UNTMIH.) He got the run around from Rideau Hall. A clerk said they would turn a blind eye to the technicality. There are quite a few CF members with the Haiti bars glued to the ribbon as is common practice by tailors. It would cost alot of money to remount these medals. Scott has been awarded the following medals: UNDOF, UNSMIH and Canadian Forces Decoration and Bar. (Ref: Scott Laird) Service in Haiti - The story behind all of those bars, including image of a UN Haiti Medal with 3 Bars!

• UN Mission in Kosovo Medal (UNMIK) (United Nations) - This medal was featured as the Medal of the Week. I have seen received additional information regarding the awarding of this medal. "The UN Kosovo medal featured in your medal of the week is described as being issued to troops serving with the UN in Kosovo; in reality the major recipients of this medal will be police officers serving with the United Nations Police in Kosovo. The  number of military personnel serving with the UN is very low (a few advisors and HQ types); the majority of the troops in Kosovo are with NATO and receive the NATO Kosovo medal.  At this moment there are about 1,900 police officers from 43 countries who will soon be eligible for the featured UN medal.  There are plans to bring this number up to 6,000 but who knows whether that will actually happen.  On January 12, 2000 the first five UN Kosovo medals were presented by UN Commissioner Sven Frederickson.  The recipients were :-

1. Tony Williams  , RCMP (Saskatchewan)    UN ID     CP 00001
2. Nicholas Bolton , Vancouver Police  (British Columbia)  UN ID   CP 00002
3. Ray  Russell  , RCMP  (Newfoundland)    UN ID  CP 00008
4. John MacDonald ,  RCMP  (British Columbia)   UN ID  CP 00153
5. Jack Gallop  ,  RCMP  (British Columbia)     UN ID  CP 00155 

In that order.  Incidentally Williams, Bolton, MacDonald and Gallop were also the only UN police officers to receive the NATO Kosovo medal. (Ref: email from Nicholas Bolton)  

• UNTAET Medal - This is the newly created United Nations medal for service in East Timor (Ref: Ed Emering)

• Danish Un-official UN Commemorative Medals (Skandinavisk Handels Kompagnis)

• MINURSO - Forgotten conflict turns 25 - Let Western Sahara go - MINURSO Map

• CF deploys peacekeepers to the UN mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea - UNMEE  
• Ethiopia-Eritrea Conflict Webpage (dagmawi@geocities.com)

• Canada and Peacekeeping (Official Canadian Government Site - Dept. of Foreign Affairs)

• Multinational Force New Focus of Talks (The focus of talks on the future of Afghanistan has shifted from the possible deployment of a U.N. peacekeeping force to a U.S. proposal to send a limited, multinational force that would provide enough security to establish an interim government) (Oct 01)

• Major-General Miguel Angel Moreno appointed Force Commander in United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (Argentina) (In 1998, General Moreno was decorated by the Government of Hungary with the “Vitez” Military Cross and by the Government of Bolivia with the “Simon Bolivar” Cross) (Nov 01)

• Dr Jacques Diouf, Director-General Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (List of decorations) (Sep 02)
• Afghanistan - International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) (Britain)
• Security Council to extend international force in Afghanistan The U.N. Security Council has decided to extend the mandate of the 22-nation security force in Afghanistan's capital a month early so Germany and the Netherlands can get parliamentary approval to take over its command, Britain's U.N. ambassador said. The council is expected to vote Monday to authorize the 4,800-strong International Security Assistance Force for a year beyond Dec. 20, when its current mandate expires (Nov 02)

• The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2001, in two equal portions, to the United Nations (U.N.) and to its Secretary-General, Kofi Annan.

• United Nations  Committee on Housing Building and Planning  This is a medal I found on eBay which I was not aware of. Does anyone have any information on this medal? Is it an official medal? If you can provide additional information, email me at: medals@canada.com

• UN awards peace medal to Chinese civilian police contingent in Liberia The United Nations Mission In Liberia (UNMIL) awarded UN Peace Medal to the Chinese Civilian Police Contingent on Friday in Monrovia for their performance in peacekeeping in Liberia. The Chinese contingent in UNMIL currently consists of 25 officers, among whom, nine had served in UN missions in East Timor and Bosnia. They are praised as professional officers and highly disciplined and devoting to their duties. Starting from 1999, China has contributed more than 300 civilian police officers to UN missions in East Timor, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Liberia and Haiti. news.xinhuanet.com 25 Sep 04

• UN Ribbons (Eric Bush)

• Ribbons of the United Nations (Steve Cheeseman)

• Die UNO-Medaillen In German

• United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) Medal

• Danish UN Guard Contingent Iraq March Medal This is an "Un-official" March medal. However, Danish soldiers may wear their march medals on their uniforms while in the operational theatre, unlike the Norwegians and Germans who are officially permitted to wear sport related medals on their uniforms. An article on Danish March Medals by Ed Emering will be appearing in the OMSA Journal in the near future. There are presently 26 such Danish March Medals. View all of the ribbons courtesy of Antonio Prieto Barrio. Image courtesy Mike Smith

• United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) By its resolution 1542 (2004) of 30 April 2004 , the Security Council established the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti ) from 1 June 2004. Personnel contributors are: Argentina , the Republic of Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, the Republic of Cameroon, Canada, the Republic of Chad, Chile, the People's Republic of China, Croatia, France, Ghana, Guatemala, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Nepal, the Niger, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, the Republic of Senegal, Turkey, the United States of America and Uruguay. un.org

• UN posthumous medals for 20 Pakistani peacekeepers UN Headquarters awarded 20 Pakistani peacekeepers posthumous medals for serving in UN peace missions last year. Eighteen Pakistani soldiers died during the UN peacekeeping mission in Sierra Leon and two in Burundi. Pakistan has taken part in 31 UN peacekeeping operations since 1960, in which 88 Pakistani soldiers died in the line of duty. geo.tv 29 May 05

• United Nations Operation in Burundi (UNUB) Medal Visit the UNUB Website Jun 05

• Pakistani blue helmets awarded medals in Bunia Some 1050 Pakistani blue helmets received medals from MONUC Force Commander, Major General Babacar Gaye. monuc.org 25 Aug 05

• L'ONU décerne la médaille de maintien de la paix au contingent marocain en Côte d'Ivoire United Nations Service medals were presented to Moroccan troops for service in the Ivory Coast (ONUCI). Receiving the medal was the commander of the Moroccan contingent in the Ivory Coast, Colonel-major Abdeslam Kdali. Morocco is participating with 39 other countries as part of the ONUCI force since 4 April 2004. ONUCI is componsed of 6,000 UN peackeeepers and is supported by 4,000 French troops under Operation "Licorne". Article in French. aujourdhui.ma 21 Nov 05

• Ghanaian Contingent Gets UN Medals Over 130 officers of GHABATT 3 of the Ghanaian Contingent serving in the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) were awarded United Nations Medals for their contribution toward the restoration of peace and stability to Liberia. Ghana began contributing peacekeepers to the United Nations in 1960 and since then, it has served in 11 UN missions throughout the world including Liberia, Sierra Leone, Lebanon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d' Ivoire, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Western Sahara and Burundi. allafrica.com 21 Nov 05

• UN to honor Filipino peacekeeper killed in Haiti The United Nations (UN) will honor a Filipino peacekeeper killed while serving in Haiti, while five other Filipino peacekeepers received special service medals for their work in East Timor. Army Staff Sergeant Antonio Batomalaque will be honored with the Dag Hammarskjold Medal along with several soldiers, police, and civilians from other countries who died in 2005 in UN peace operations worldwide. A member of the 135-man Philippine contingent to the troubled Caribbean country, he was killed by gunmen during a firefight in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince on April 14, 2005. In East Timor, five Filipino police officers -- Edgar Layon, Pedrito delos Reyes, Jose Molava Duenas, Joseph Pangilinan and Celso Destajo -- received on April 7 the UN Special Service Medal. The police officers work for the UN Office in Timor-Leste or UNOTIL. sunstar.com.ph 18 Apr 06

• 165 Filipino peacekeepers in Liberia receive medals from UN At least 165 Filipino peacekeepers in Liberia received UN Peacekeeping medals for their contribution to the peace process in this troubled African country, according to a statement from the office of the Philippine Representative to the UN. Alan Doss, special representative of the UN secretary general for Liberia, awarded the medals to the Filipinos for “their professionalism and dedication” to the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). Philippine Contingent Commander Colonel Mario Mendoza said Filipino peacekeepers in Liberia had shown their selfless service and commitment to UN ideals and goals. The office of the Philippine Representative to the UN said that 172 Filipino peacekeepers, including nine women, are now serving in Liberia. It said the Philippines began contributing troops to United Nations peacekeeping operations in 1950 in Korea and since then had served in over 20 peacekeeping missions, including Vietnam, the Congo, Sierra Leone, Iraq, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, East Timor, Haiti, and now Liberia. news.inq7.net 11 Apr 06

• United Nations - UNOMIG Police Officers Awarded Medals The officers of the United Nations Observer Mission to Georgia (UNOMIG) Civilian Police were awarded Achievement Medals. The civilian police component was added to UNOMIG in 2003 by Security Council Resolution to strengthen UNOMIG’s capacity to carry out its mandate, in particular to create conditions conducive to the safe and dignified return of internally displaced persons and refugees, as recommended by the Security Assessment Mission of 2002. UNOMIG Police Officers, which at present comprise 12 officers from six different countries, have important monitoring and advisory functions, and play a crucial role in strengthening the capacity of local law enforcement agencies. eng.primenewsonline.com 19 Apr 06