UNIFIL commemorates 80th anniversary of United Nations

UNIFIL marked Friday the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations with a ceremony held at its headquarters in Naqoura in south Lebanon.

The ceremony also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the adoption of Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, which enshrined the role of women and recognized their contributions to global peace and security.

Among those attending the ceremony were Lebanon’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Youssef Rajji, representing the Government of Lebanon; Major General Hassan Audi, representing the Lebanese Armed Forces; local and religious leaders and senior U.N. officials in Lebanon.

The mission’s head and Force Commander, Major General Diodato Abagnara said the two anniversaries carry a unified message: “Peace is not built by a few, it is built by everyone. And inclusion is not just a symbol, it is the very heart of peace itself.”

The UNIFIL head also commended the work of the United Nations system in Lebanon, describing it as “a bridge between communities, a channel for dialogue, and a steady hand in times of tension.”

“It is a story lived every day by the men and women who serve, in uniform and as civilians, who carry the blue flag with dedication and hope,” said Major General Abagnara. “Alongside the Lebanese Armed Forces, we uphold Security Council Resolution 1701 and create space for peace to take root.”

He also emphasized the importance of leaving behind stronger Lebanese institutions in the south, deeper community trust, and solid foundations for the future.

Abagnara lauded the role of women in UNIFIL: “In UNIFIL, I am proud to see women serving across every component, military, civilian, and police, leading patrols, commanding units, advising communities, and shaping strategies.”

This year’s observance marked the first in two years, as last year’s intensified conflict along the Blue Line had prevented such ceremonies.

United Nations Day, celebrated annually on 24 October, marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the U.N. Charter. Lebanon is one of the 51 founding members of the United Nations that signed the Charter.