Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

United Nations Peacekeeping Medal

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Overview

United Nations medals awarded for peacekeeping and related duties follow a standard design. The medal is fabricated of a bronze-coloured metal over a non-metallic core with a diameter about 36mm to 40mm. Variations in colour occur between production batches of the medal ranging from dark bronze to a gold like lustre.
The obverse UNFICYP medal features the emblem of the United Nations, which consists of a world map surrounded by two olive branches symbolizing peace. The emblem is raised or embossed to create a three-dimensional effect. The words "United Nations" or the abbreviation "UN" may also appear on the obverse. The reverse is normally plain or bears the motto In the service of peace although variations do occur.

Historical information

Australia is a founding member of the UN, has been an active participant in UN institutions for 70 years and is currently the 11th largest contributor to the UN regular budget. Australia held the first Presidency of the Security Council in 1946 and provided the first military observers under UN auspices a year later, to Indonesia during the independence struggle. Australia has been integrally involved in global efforts to build and restore peace for over 70 years. Australia has provided personnel to 62 UN and other multilateral peace and security operations since 1947 and remains a strong supporter of UN peacekeeping.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-99-088

Inscriptions and markings

As of June 2023, Australians have been involved in the following peacekeeping operations:
• Indonesia (1947–51)
• Kashmir (1950–85)
• Korea (1953–1957)
• Israel – under Operation Paladin (1956–present)
• Congo (1960–61)
• West New Guinea (1962–63)
• Yemen (1963)
• Cyprus (1964–present)
• India/Pakistan Border (1965–66)
• Sinai – under Operation Mazurka (1976–79; 1982–86; 1993–present)
• Israel/Syria Border (1974)
• Lebanon (1978)
• Zimbabwe (1979–80)
• Uganda (1982–84)
• Iran (1988–90)
• Thailand/Cambodia Border (1989–93)
• Namibia – under UNTAG (1989–90)
• Afghanistan (1989–93) – under the United Nations Mine Clearance Training Team (UNMCTT)
• Iraqi Kurdistan – under Operation Habitat (1991)
• Iraq (1991–99)
• Western Sahara (1991–94)
• Cambodia – under UNTAC (1991–93)
• Somalia – under Operation Solace (1992–95)
• Yugoslavia (1992)
• Rwanda (1994–95)
• Mozambique (1994–2002)
• Bougainville (1994; 1997–2003)
• Haiti (1994–95)
• Guatemala (1997)
• Yugoslavia (1997–present)
• Kosovo (1999–present)
• East Timor – under INTERFET, UNTAET, UNMISET, Operation Tower and Operation Astute (1999–2013)
• Solomon Islands – under RAMSI (2000–13)
• Ethiopia/Eritrea (2000–present)
• Sierra Leone (2000–03)
• Sudan – under UNMIS and Operation Azure (2005–11)
• Darfur – under Operation Hedgerow (2007–present)
• South Sudan – under UNMISS and Operation Aslan (2011–present)

Contextual Information

Except for Korea and the initial United Nations Emergency Force in the Sinai, a standard medal has been issued by the United Nations for Peacekeeping operations. A distinctive ribbon is created for each operation. Some counries authorise nummerals to be affixed to the ribbon to indicate multiple deployments. Separate entries exist for some specific peacekeeping operations in which Western Australian army personnel have played a major role or which are in close geographic proximity.

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