UNSC adopts Pakistan-co-authored resolution on accountability for attacks on peacekeepers

Pakistan's UN envoy Asim Iftikhar Ahmad says Security Council must go beyond expressions of concern

The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Tuesday aimed at strengthening accountability for crimes committed against UN peacekeepers, underscoring the need to investigate and prosecute attacks targeting personnel serving in peace operations.

The resolution, co-authored by Pakistan and Denmark, received the support of all 15 Council members and was co-sponsored by more than 100 UN member states.

A helpful effort from @PakistanUN_NY and @Denmark_UN to bolster the Council's political attention on and UN machinery in response to crimes committed against @UNPeacekeeping https://t.co/vXp96MWYWf

— Daniel Forti (@FortiD) June 23, 2026

According to the UN, as many as 1,095 peacekeepers have been killed in malicious acts since 1948, including 359 since 2013, while several thousand others have been injured.

Ahead of the vote, Pakistan's UN envoy Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said the Security Council must go beyond expressions of concern.

Statement by Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad,
Permanent Representative of Pakistan,
While Introducing the Draft Resolution on Accountability for Crimes Against Peacekeepers at the UN Security Council
(23 June 2026)
*****

Madam President,

Together with Denmark, Pakistan has the… pic.twitter.com/TeWuhAERiI

— Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN (@PakistanUN_NY) June 23, 2026

"This draft resolution seeks to move the council beyond statements condemning these attacks. Council's pronouncements are important, condolences are necessary, but they are not enough," he said.

Across several missions, attacks against United Nations peacekeepers have increased in number and sophistication. Peacekeepers are being targeted, often with little accountability. This draft resolution seeks to move the Council beyond statements condemning these attacks. The… pic.twitter.com/Hggrk27VQu

— Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN (@PakistanUN_NY) June 23, 2026

Ahmad noted that the resolution introduced practical measures to strengthen existing accountability mechanisms, including annual reporting by the UN secretary-general on investigations and prosecutions related to killings and violence against peacekeepers.

Read More: Pak pays tribute to UN peacekeepers

Following the vote, he expressed his gratitude to the members for their votes and Denmark in particular.

Most grateful to all Security Council members for the consensual adoption of resolution 2823 on Accountability for Crimes Against Peacekeepers today. I thank Denmark for our strong partnership as the Council’s “peacekeeping duo”.

Our deep appreciation and profound thanks also… pic.twitter.com/6vkcpUU31E

— Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, PR of Pakistan to the UN (@PakistanPR_UN) June 23, 2026

Denmark's UN envoy Christina Markus Lassen welcomed the resolution's adoption and thanked council members for their engagement during negotiations.

"The unanimous support for this resolution sends a strong and important message to the over 50,000 personnel currently serving in peacekeeping missions," she said.

Lassen added that Denmark was pleased to work closely with Pakistan on the initiative as part of their cooperation on peacekeeping issues within the Security Council.

🇩🇰 PR at this morning’s unanimous adoption of the 🇩🇰🇵🇰 resolution on accountability for crimes against UN peacekeepers: “United Nations peacekeeping represents the promise of the Charter in action”. pic.twitter.com/wUi1ziiKqh

— Denmark in UN NY🇩🇰 (@Denmark_UN) June 23, 2026

Adopted as UN Resolution 2823, it condemned all attacks against UN peacekeepers and paid tribute to personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty.

It stressed that attacks against peacekeepers may constitute war crimes and highlighted accountability as a key tool to deter future violence and improve the safety and security of UN missions.

The text also called on relevant stakeholders to cooperate with the UN in pursuing accountability and reiterates the responsibility of host countries to investigate such crimes and bring perpetrators to justice in accordance with national and international law.