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Federal government honors nine German peacekeepers
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens, from left), Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (both SPD) honor civilian experts, police officers and soldiers on today’s “Peacekeeping Day”. photo
© Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
Almost 2,100 German women and men are currently involved in international peacekeeping operations. Now some of the “Peacekeepers” are being honored on their behalf – for the first time in a special environment.
On “Peacekeeping Day”, the Federal Government honors nine civilian experts, police officers and soldiers on behalf of all Germans deployed in international peacekeeping missions.
On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the “Day of Peacekeeping” in Germany, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens), Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (both SPD) will be honoring them for the first time in the Bundestag today. Crisis management is debated in parliament and decisions are made on foreign missions.
The “Day of Peacekeeping” was initiated in 2013 in the style of the UN’s “Day of the Peacekeepers” in order to express appreciation and gratitude to the German personnel in international peacekeeping operations, as the Foreign Ministry announced. With the thematic focus “Women, Peace, Security” the special role of women in peacekeeping should be acknowledged.
Germany is currently involved in international peacekeeping missions with almost 2,100 people, including a good 290 women. A total of almost 190 civilian experts, around 1850 soldiers and almost 60 police officers are on peacekeeping missions. According to the federal government, the German contribution to the UN budget for peacekeeping measures is currently almost 356 million euros. Germany is therefore the fourth largest contributor with a share of a good 6 percent of the total UN budget for peacekeeping of around 5.9 billion euros.
The honored experts
Swen Dornig – Since October 2020 in action at Landcom, the command authority responsible for the NATO land forces in Turkey. Works in the field of women, peace and security.
Sahra El Fassi – Advisor for the World Food Program in the Palestinian Territories since 2022. Was in Iraq as part of an EU mission as a consultant on human rights and gender.
Sabrina Schirmer – Head of the OSCE Field Office Brcko in Bosnia and Herzegovina since May 2022. Supports education, human rights, the rule of law and gender equality.
The honored police officers
Claudia Bock – The police chief commissioner worked as an advisory expert for prevention and investigation in the field of sexual and gender-based violence in a UN mission in Sudan until July 2022.
Stephanie Königs – The police chief was in Georgia from November 2021 to February 2023 as an observer. Member of a team monitoring the security authorities of the parties to the conflict.
Georg Fliege – Senior Criminal Counselor, advised the Iraqi Interior Ministry on an EU mission from March 2020 to June 2022. It was about strategic planning in cooperation with local police officers.
The honored soldiers
Tanja Dernjac – The soldier with the rank of senior staff sergeant was a UN military observer in South Sudan until March 2023. Core mission: protection of the civilian population, compliance with international humanitarian law.
Markus Löfflad – Staff Sergeant, worked from October 2022 to March 2023 as an advisor to the “Baghdad Computer School” and supported the Iraqi Army’s NBC Defense School because of his knowledge.
Antje Seemann – The soldier with the rank of lieutenant at sea worked until March 2023 as a logistician as part of the “Gazelle” training mission in Niger, West Africa, which has now ended.