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A Ghanaian peacekeeper serving with听the UN Interim Security Force in Abyei听() will receive the 2022 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. 听

Captain Cecilia Erzuah, 32, who has served in Abyei since March 2022 as the Commander of the Ghana Engagement Platoon,听will receive the award from Secretary-General Ant贸nio Guterres during a ceremony听marking the International Day of UN Peacekeepers on Thursday, 25 May 2023.听

Created in 2016, the UN 鈥溾�� recognizes the dedication and efforts of an individual military peacekeeper in promoting the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

Resolution 1325 reminds us that our women peacekeepers are not only supporting global peace and security. They are leading the way. By every measure, Capt. Cecilia Erzuah of Ghana is one of those leaders

鈥淩esolution 1325 reminds us that our women peacekeepers are not only supporting global peace and security. They are leading the way. By every measure, Capt. Cecilia Erzuah of Ghana is one of those leaders,鈥� said听Secretary-General Ant贸nio Guterres. 鈥淥n every front, Capt. Erzuah鈥檚 work has set the standard for ensuring that the needs and concerns of women are reflected across our peacekeeping operations.鈥澨�

Capt. Erzuah听expressed her gratitude for being selected to receive the听prize which she called 鈥渁n award for all of us,鈥� referring to her platoon members.

An advocate for gender equality and community engagement, Capt. Erzuah made sure that her 22-strong platoon, composed equally of men and women, conducted regular patrols and outreach to local leaders as well as women鈥檚 and youth groups, to better understand and address community concerns and needs.听

Together with civilian UN colleagues, she also hosted discussions on domestic violence, gender equality and childcare.听

Those conversations resulted in an increase in the number of women enlisted in Community Protection Committees, which were initially male dominated. The engagement with community members led to improved early warning about threats of violence against civilians and broader security issues.听

On every front, Capt. Erzuah鈥檚 work has set the standard for ensuring that the needs and concerns of women are reflected across our peacekeeping operations

The monthly market walks she initiated with her battalion also contributed to build strong and enduring relationships between traders, local residents and the UN.

In January 2023, following a spike in community violence in Majbong, a village in southeast Abyei, Capt. Erzuah鈥檚 platoon stepped up its presence, regularly checking on the plight of displaced people in the volatile area and enabling the Mission to provide necessary support.听

Community members, who had sought sanctuary from the fighting in the surrounding bush, gradually began returning to their homes in the village and women reported feeling much safer.听听鈥�The mixed patrols are (...) boosting the confidence of members of the community to go about daily activities safely,鈥� said Deng Paul Mankuol, a traditional chief in Majbong.

Capt. Erzuah is the first Ghanaian peacekeeper, and the first recipient from a contingent or a unit, to receive this prestigious award.听

Ghana is currently the largest contributor of women military peacekeepers to the UN with 375 now deployed.