Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme of Ghana has received the Military Gender Advocate Award during a ceremony marking the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers on May 29.

Chief Superintendent Zainab Gbla of Sierra Leone grabbed the Woman Police Officer of the Year Award.

The awards were presented at United Nations Headquarters in New York by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Sharon Syme of Ghana was recognised for her exceptional commitment to promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls during her tour of duty with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

According to the UN, Ms. Syme’s work has directly impacted local communities, ensuring the voices and needs of women and girls are integrated into security and peacebuilding initiatives since her deployment in 2024 as the Mission’s Military Gender Adviser.

She is said to have conducted an intensive health campaign for the women and men of the local communities on the dangers and health implications of gender-based violence and harmful traditional practices like child marriage.

Ms. Syme also helped strengthen the gender awareness and capacity of UNISFA’s military components, spearheading patrols composed of men and women able to address diverse community needs, and engaging with local women’s groups to promote trust and collaboration.

"Her approach emphasized inclusivity, respect and cultural awareness, setting a benchmark for gender-responsive peacekeeping operations," the UN wrote on its website.

Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said, "Squadron Leader Syme exemplifies the principles of gender advocacy in peacekeeping."

“Her dedication has not only improved the effectiveness of UNISFA’s operations, but also ensured that the mission is more reflective of and responsive to the communities it serves.”

On her part, Ms Syme said, “Applying gender perspectives into daily tasks is the responsibility of every peacekeeper."

“Success comes through diversifying military representation at checkpoints, operating bases and on patrols it also comes from having gender-responsive leaders, who listen and respond to the voices of their male and female peacekeepers," she added.

In reaction to her recognition, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) in a post on Facebook, wrote: "Congratulations to Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme on your receipt of the United Nations Award for Gender Advocate of the Year."

About the Awardees

Chief Superintendent Zainab Mbalu Gbla joined the Sierra Leone Police in 2002, where she has since held various roles in operations, training and leadership. She has been serving with UNISFA since April 2023 as Officer-in-Charge of the Community-Based Disarmament Unit and UNPOL Chief Training Officer. This is her third peacekeeping deployment, after serving with the United Nations – African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) in 2010–2013 and 2020–2021.

Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme graduated from the Ghana Military Academy after obtaining her first master's degree in international health at Japan’s Tokyo University. A year later, she joined the Ghana Armed Forces Medical Corps and is the Deputy Chief Dietician at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra, Ghana. Her first peacekeeping deployment, she joined UNISFA in March 2024 as the Mission’s Military Gender Adviser.

About the Awards

The United Nations Woman Police Officer of the Year award was established in 2011 to recognize the exceptional contributions of women police officers to UN peace operations and to promote women’s empowerment, in line with UN Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security.

The UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award is presented annually since 2016 to a military peacekeeper — male or female — who has shown outstanding commitment and leadership in promoting the principles of resolution 1325 (2000).

The resolution calls on actors to mainstream a gender perspective in all aspects of peacekeeping and peacebuilding and to ensure women’s participation in peace and political processes.

The resolution also calls for the protection from, and prevention of, conflict-related sexual violence and for an expansion of the role and contribution of women in UN operations, including of uniformed women peacekeepers.