UN Peacekeeping Mission Veteran's Association, Poland.

16/01/2025

06/12/2024

The WVF Honorary President Serge Wourgaft (1917-2024) left us 2. December 2024 at the age of 108.

At the beginning of December, we was informed that our former important President, now Honorary President Serge Wourgaft had passed away.
This news fills us with deep sadness, as he was a comrade who was active for many decades of his life for the common veterans idea.
Serge Wourgaft was born in Odessa on August 31, 1917. His family came to France in the 1920s. As a young man, he took part in the Resistance’s fight against the German occupation, was arrested and deported to Buchenwald concentration camp. As a member of the French inmate group, he contributed to the self-liberation of the camp on April 11, 1945. Even after the liberation, he was responsible for the medical service in the camp.
After his return to France, he was press attache to the Minister of Food Supply, editor at the Reuters news agency and member of the cabinet of the Minister of Public Works and Transport.
In 1957, on behalf of his organization FNDIRP (National Federation of Deported and Imprisoned Resistance Fighters and Patriots), he began working for the World Federation of Veterans (WVF), of which he became Secretary General in 1979. In this function, he worked closely with the UN, UNESCO, Red Cross and other world wide organisations. When he gave up this function in 1997, he was elected President of the WVF for another three years. In 2000, he relinquished this function and became Honorary President.
He also held other social functions, e.g. as Chairman of the Special Committee of NGOs for Disarmament in Geneva or as Chairman of the Liaison Committee for the Transportation of the Disabled (COLITRAH).
Serge Wourgaft was highly honored as a Resistance fighter, Commander of the Legion of Honor, Grand Officer in the National Order of Merit and recipient of the War Cross, the Resistance Medal and numerous foreign awards.
He was associated with his organization FNDIRP until his last breath. In May 1998, he was elected a member of the FNDIRP’s Honorary Committee. Since 2013, he was editor of the FNDIRP’s monthly newspaper “Le Patriote Résistant”. He was also actively involved in the “Concours National de la Résistance et de la Déportation” and in other contexts.
Our condolences go out to his family and his French comrades. We will keep Serge Wourgaft in honorable memory.

21/11/2024

Gen. broni Dariusz Parylak nowym dowódcą Wielonarodowego Korpusu Północno-Wschodniego. Dziś, w Szczecinie obowiązki przekazał mu gen. broni Jürgen-Joachim von Sandrart.

Rotacja na tym stanowisku następuje co trzy lata. Dowodzenie obejmują na zmianę oficerowie Wojska Polskiego i Republiki Federalnej Niemiec.

Generał Parylak dowodził 11 Lubuską Dywizją Kawalerii Pancernej oraz 12 Szczecińską Dywizją Zmechanizowaną. Od września 2023 r. był zastępcą dowódcy 2 Korpusu Polskiego - Dowództwa Komponentu Lądowego. Jest doktorem nauk społecznych Akademii Obrony Narodowej.

Multinational Corps Northeast Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej Polska Zbrojna Wojsko Polskie

20/11/2024

🎓📚 Kontynuujemy naszą serię edukacyjną o zagranicznych misjach z udziałem polskich żołnierzy. W poprzednich wpisach omawialiśmy misje NATO, a dziś skupimy się na operacjach prowadzonych pod egidą ONZ 🇺🇳🌍

Polska brała udział w wielu misjach pokojowych na całym świecie, wnosząc wkład w utrzymanie międzynarodowego pokoju i bezpieczeństwa💪

Oto niektóre z najważniejszych misji ONZ z udziałem polskich żołnierzy:
➡️ UNTAG – Namibia (1989-1990): wsparcie procesu niepodległości.
➡️ UNIFIL – Liban (1992-obecnie): monitorowanie granicy libańsko-izraelskiej.
➡️ UNAMIC/UNTAC – Kambodża (1991-1994): stabilizacja i nadzór wyborów.
➡️ UNEF II – Synaj (1973-1979): rozdzielenie wojsk po wojnie Jom Kippur.
➡️ UNDOF – Wzgórza Golan (od 1974-2009): obserwacja rozdzielenia wojsk.
➡️ UNTAES – Chorwacja (1996-1998): reintegracja regionów.
➡️ MINURSO – Sahara Zachodnia (od 1991): nadzór nad referendum.
➡️ UNIIMOG – Iran-Irak (1988-1991): monitorowanie zawieszenia broni.
➡️ UNGCI – Irak (1991-2003): ochrona działań humanitarnych.
➡️ UNOMIG – Gruzja (1993-2009): monitoring w Abchazji.
➡️ UNIKOM – Irak-Kuwejt (1991-2003): nadzór nad strefą demilitaryzacyjną.

Chcecie dowiedzieć się więcej o polskich misjach ONZ? Zapraszamy na naszą stronę! 🌐
🔗 https://www.wojsko-polskie.pl/weterani/misjeONZ/


Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej Sztab Generalny WP Dowództwo Operacyjne Rodzajów Sił Zbrojnych

19/11/2024

26/10/2024

22/10/2024

"In today’s troubled world, hope is not enough. Hope requires determined action and multilateral solutions for peace, shared prosperity and a thriving planet. Hope requires all countries working as one. Hope requires the United Nations."

UN secretary general, António Guterres

18/10/2024

"How to Protect War Veterans.

War veterans have made immense sacrifices in service for their countries, and it is the countries duty to ensure their well-being and safety upon their return. Protecting war veterans requires a comprehensive approach that addresses their physical, emotional, and psychological needs.

Firstly, it is essential to provide access to quality healthcare services, including mental health support. Many veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries, and other combat-related injuries. Governments and healthcare organizations must allocate sufficient resources to provide timely and effective medical care.

Secondly, war veterans often face difficulties in readjusting to civilian life. To facilitate a smooth transition, governments and non-profit organizations can offer education and job training programs, as well as counseling services to help them cope with the emotional scars of war.

Thirdly, it is crucial to provide a safe and supportive environment for war veterans. This can be achieved by establishing specialized housing facilities, offering peer support groups, and promoting community engagement initiatives. These efforts can help veterans rebuild their lives, reconnect with their families, and reintegrate into society.

The task of protecting war veterans also involves recognizing their sacrifices and contributions. Governments can establish programs to honor their service, such as awarding medals, providing burial benefits, and creating memorials to commemorate their bravery.

It is vital to involve the families of war veterans in the protection process. Family members often bear the emotional burden of caring for their loved ones, and they require support and resources to cope with the challenges of caring for a wounded veteran. Governments and organizations can offer counseling services, respite care, and other forms of assistance to alleviate their burden.

In conclusion, protecting war veterans requires a multifaceted approach that addresses their physical, emotional, and psychological needs. By providing quality healthcare, education, and employment opportunities, as well as recognizing their sacrifices and supporting their families, we can ensure that our heroes receive the care and respect they deserve."

Honorary President Dan Viggo Bergtun

18/10/2024

"How to use war veterans in the mission for peace and security

War veterans possess a unique set of skills, experiences, and perspectives that can be leveraged to promote peace and security in various contexts. Having served on the frontlines, they have developed valuable expertise in areas such as conflict resolution, crisis management, and community engagement. Moreover, their understanding of the devastating consequences of war makes them powerful advocates for peace and stability. Here are some ways to utilize war veterans in the mission for peace and security:

1. Conflict Resolution and Mediation: War veterans can be deployed as mediators in conflict zones, drawing on their experience in negotiating with hostile parties and resolving disputes. Their ability to empathize with multiple perspectives and remain calm under pressure makes them effective in diffusing tensions and finding peaceful solutions.

2. Community Engagement and Outreach: Veterans can engage with local communities, fostering trust and understanding through their shared experiences as soldiers. This helps to build bridges between rival factions, promotes dialogue, and facilitates the exchange of ideas, ultimately contributing to a more peaceful and stable environment.

3. Training and Capacity Building: War veterans can share their knowledge and skills with local security forces, enabling them to respond more effectively to emerging threats and maintain order in a manner that respects human rights and the rule of law. This capacity-building effort can also extend to civilian authorities, empowering them to address the root causes of conflict and promote sustainable development.

4. Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response: Veterans are well-equipped to provide humanitarian aid and respond to natural disasters, leveraging their logistical expertise, and ability to operate in challenging environments. Their presence can help to alleviate suffering, restore hope, and facilitate the rebuilding of affected communities.

5. Policy Development and Advocacy: War veterans can inform and shape policy decisions related to peace and security, drawing on their firsthand experience of the consequences of war. Their advocacy can help to promote a culture of peace, encouraging governments and international organizations to invest in conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms.

6. Reconciliation and Reintegration: Veterans can play a crucial role in reconciling former combatants and promoting their reintegration into civilian life. By sharing their own experiences of transition, they can provide guidance and support, helping others to overcome the psychological and emotional scars of war.

7. Mentorship and Leadership: War veterans can serve as role models and mentors, inspiring a new generation of peacebuilders and security professionals. Their leadership can help to galvanize efforts, foster collaboration, and drive innovation in the pursuit of peace and security.

8. Public Awareness and Education: Veterans can raise public awareness about the importance of peace and security, highlighting the devastating effects of war and the need for collective action to prevent conflict. Their stories can educate and inspire, encouraging individuals to take an active role in promoting peace and stability.

9. Demobilization, Disarmament, and Reintegration (DDR) Programs: War veterans can contribute to DDR programs, helping to demobilize and disarm former combatants, and reintegrate them into civilian life. Their involvement can ensure that these programs are tailored to the specific needs of beneficiaries, increasing their effectiveness and impact.

10. Memorialization and Commemoration: Veterans can participate in memorialization and commemoration efforts, preserving the history of past conflicts and honoring the sacrifices of those who have served. This helps to promote a culture of remembrance, encouraging nations to learn from the past and work towards a more peaceful future.

In conclusion, war veterans possess a unique set of skills, experiences, and perspectives that can be leveraged to promote peace and security. By harnessing their potential, we can create a more stable and peaceful world, where the devastating consequences of war are minimized, and the benefits of peace and security are maximized. It is our collective responsibility to recognize the value of war veterans and provide them with the necessary support and opportunities to contribute to this critical mission.

Furthermore, governments, international organizations, and civil society must work together to create an enabling environment that empowers war veterans to make a positive impact. This includes providing them with the necessary resources, training, and support to succeed in their roles, as well as recognizing and rewarding their contributions to the pursuit of peace and security.

In addition, it is essential to address the physical and emotional scars that many war veterans carry, providing them with access to medical and psychological care, as well as social and economic support. This will enable them to overcome the challenges of transition and reintegrate into civilian life, where they can continue to contribute to their communities and societies.

Ultimately, the effective utilization of war veterans in the mission for peace and security requires a comprehensive and sustained effort. By working together and leveraging the unique strengths and experiences of war veterans, we can create a more peaceful and stable world, where the benefits of peace and security are shared by all."
..report from the WVF Peace and Security Summit in Stockholm

15/10/2024

30/09/2024

30/09/2024