Reflecting on the role and contribution of special political missions in the maintenance of international peace and security.


This panel discussion aims to reflect on the role and contribution of special political missions in the maintenance of international peace and security since the early days of the Organization, and to explore lessons from their history that can inform our present and future engagements. It will be held on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, at 3 p.m., in Conference Room 7 at United Nations Headquarters.

The first United Nations special political mission was established on 14 May 1948, when the General Assembly adopted resolution 186 (S-2) creating the United Nations Mediator for the Truce in Palestine. Since then, the Organization has deployed 167 special political missions across the world. The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) prepared a new publication "United Nations Special Political Missions 1945-2025: An Overview" on the history of UN special political missions. This new publication provides, for the first time, a comprehensive public record of the history of these missions. Examining their evolution as multilateral instruments for peace and security provides insights that can inform present and future missions.

Launch event of UN Special Political Missions: 1945 -2025: An Overview!



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