International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members

International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members

The International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members seeks to acknowledge and remember personnel dedicated to the resolution of global conflicts who have been detained, gone missing or been taken prisoner while carrying out primary duties. It serves as a noteworthy reminder regarding the considerable risks involved in peacekeeping missions, and the sacrifices made by peacekeepers. This period of observance also emphasizes the importance of international cooperation for the safe recovery, release, and repatriation of detained or missing peacekeepers.

Although no detailed record of the inception of this observance exists, it has gained relevance and importance globally, including in Australia, with its strong peacekeeping history. Australians have been contributing to international peacekeeping missions since 1947, with over 30,000 personnel serving in more than 50 multi-national missions worldwide. Sadly, some of these brave peacekeepers have been detained or have gone missing while serving, bringing a personal connection to this observance for many Australians.

In Australia, the Observance of Detained and Missing Peacekeepers is marked by honouring those who have risked their lives to ensure global peace. This is done through a multitude of means such as historical reviews, documentaries, commemorative marches, and special events involving both military personnel and civilians. This observance occurs each year on March 25th, acknowledging the individual contribution of brave souls seeking peace.

Top 10 Facts for 2026 International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members in Australia

• The International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members is observed annually on 25 March to commemorate the anniversary of the abduction of Alec Collett, a journalist who was kidnapped by armed gunmen in 1985 while working for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
• The remains of Alec Collett were only discovered and positively identified in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley in 2009, nearly twenty-four years after his disappearance, highlighting the long-term uncertainty faced by the families of missing international personnel.
• Australia holds a unique place in the history of global peacekeeping as it provided the very first group of military observers to a United Nations mission in 1947 during the Indonesian National Revolution.
• Since that inaugural mission, more than 65,000 Australian personnel have served in over 50 different United Nations and multilateral peace operations, making the safety of staff a significant issue for the tens of thousands of Australian veterans and their families.
• A prominent Australian example of the risks faced by those working in conflict zones is the case of photojournalist Nigel Brennan, who was kidnapped in Somalia in 2008 and held in captivity for 462 days before his release was secured through a private ransom.
• Australia has formally integrated international protections for humanitarian workers into its domestic law through Division 71 of the Criminal Code Act 1995, which criminalises attacks against United Nations and associated personnel.
• The Australian Peacekeeping Memorial on Anzac Parade in Canberra serves as a national site of reflection for the 16 Australian peacekeepers who have lost their lives and the many others who have faced detention or life-threatening danger while serving abroad.
• Recent years have seen a surge in the targeting of international staff, with 2025 recorded as one of the deadliest years for United Nations personnel due to a rise in malicious attacks and deliberate detentions in volatile regions.
• The observance specifically promotes the 1994 Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, a treaty that Australia was among the first to ratify to ensure that those who commit crimes against peacekeepers are held accountable under international law.
• Beyond military personnel, the day is increasingly focused on the vulnerability of locally recruited national staff, who represent the majority of those detained or missing while delivering essential aid and medical services in their own countries.

In the News and Trending in Australia for International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members

Top things to do in Australia for this observance

• Review the UN General Assembly's adopted resolution to help protect UN personnel.
• Watch a video about the different member states showing their support for UN personnel.
• Watch a Film to learn more about Detained and Missing Peacekeepers:
  Missing in Action - A film focusing on the issue of soldiers missing in action and prisoners of war.
  The Thin Blue Line - A documentary-style film highlighting peacekeepers' efforts and their challenges.
• Read a book to learn more about Detained and Missing Peacekeepers:
  Five Uneasy Peaces: Case Studies of UN Military Forces in The Congo, Cyprus, Sinai, Cyprus and Lebanon - by Gary D. Ryan
  The Oxford Handbook on United Nations Peacekeeping Operations - by Joachim Koops