Women’s achievements in Abyei win the highest international awards in the field of peacekeeping

The two awards awarded from the United Nations Secretary -General, Antonio Guterres, will receive a ceremony at the United Nations headquarters in New York on May 29, 2025, as part of the celebrations of International peace memorization day.

The officer Sharon Sim from Ghana

A statement issued by the office of the United Nations spokesman stated that the choice “The chain of gender is in the ranks of the military for the year 2024” It came in honor of its exceptional commitment to enhance gender equality and empower women and girls during her service period with The United Nations Security Force for Abi (UNICF).

Since its publication in 2024 as a responsible for the military gender affairs of the mission, the impact of the work of the officer is directly on local communities, which included the integration of the voices and needs of women and girls in security and peace -building initiatives. As part of her efforts, she conducted an intense health campaign for women and men of communities on the dangers of gender -based violence and harmful traditional practices such as child marriage.

Sim also helped enhance awareness and ability to gender equality among the military components of the United Nations Security Force for Abi, as it led patrols consisting of men and women who are able to meet the various society’s needs, and communicated with local women’s groups to enhance confidence and cooperation. Sharon’s approach to totalitarianism, respect and cultural awareness, which has set a standard of peacekeeping operations for gender.

The Undersecretary of the United Nations Secretary -General of Peace Operations, Jean -Pierre Lacroix, said: “Squadier’s leader Sim embodies the principles of advocacy for gender in peacekeeping. Her dedication has not only improved the effectiveness of the United Nations security force of Abi, but also within the mission to be more responsive to the societies that serve it.”

In turn, the officer said: “The application of sexual perspectives in daily tasks is the responsibility of every member of peacekeeping. Success comes by diversifying military representation at checkpoints, rules of operations, and periodicals, and also comes from the presence of leaders who take into account social quality, listening and responding to the voices of members of peace conservation of men and women.”

The officer Zainab mountain from Sierra Leone

Zainab Jabla from Sierra Leone won a prize The best police officer at the United Nations for the year 2024 In honor of its innovative initiatives in the participation of society, which helped to enhance relations between host societies and the mission, with the creation of new channels to report crimes in Abyei, which does not exist a police service.

It started an educational program that provides visual materials and assistance to teach deprived children in an area that was lacking in schools upon its arrival. It also established a guidance program for girls. The projects that I started to support crop cultivation and sell livestock in local markets have contributed to providing sustainable sources of income for women, which enabled them to support their families and send their children to schools.

The police are currently working as the main police training officer in the UNICF force. She had spent her teenage years a displacement inside her country, Sierra Leone, and later as a refuge in Guinea. These experiences motivated them to join the police and empower affected women, like them, from conflicts.

The Undersecretary of the Secretary -General of the Peace Operations, Jean -Pierre Lacroix said: “The control is a mountain embodies the United Nations’ work in improving life and formulating the future, after its direct vision of the positive influence of the police, including the process of rebuilding and restructuring the Sierra Leone police after years of conflict.”

As for the officer, a mountain, when she heard the news of her winning the award: “This award embodies the hard work of women who wear military uniforms and serve under the banner of the United Nations. Each of us faces unique challenges in its various missions, but our collective goal remains one: promoting peace and protecting vulnerable groups.”