ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in the Western Sahara was established by Security Council Resolution 690 in April of 1991. PURPOSE OF THE MISSION The MINURSO was established to enable the people of Western Sahara to choose freely between integration with Morocco or to achieve independence. EFFECTIVE DATES This mission has been in effect since May of 1991. CRITERIA The United Nations Medal with this ribbon design was awarded to personnel of the Armed Forces of the United States who served for a period of not less than 90 days DESIGNER The design of the medal was specified by the United Nations. ORDER OF PRECEDENCE The order of precedence for wearing the United Nations Medal is set by the national government of the recipients. In the case of the United States, this medal is worn after the UN Korean Medal and before the NATO Medal for "Former Yugoslavia." DEVICES Additional awards of any United Nations medal are denoted by bronze stars. DESCRIPTION AND SYMBOLISM The is the standard United Nations medal. The emblem of the United Nations is shown in the center of a bronze medallion. Above this emblem are the letters UN in the twelve o'clock position. Reverse The reverse bears the inscription IN THE SERVICE / OF PEACE in two lines in the center of the medal. Ribbon The ribbon has a wide central band of a sandy brown color (representing the Sahara desert) with two narrow bands of UN blue at either side. |