Captain Cecilia Erzuah, 32, who has served with the?United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei?since?last year, as the Commander of the Ghana Engagement Platoon,?received the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award from?Secretary-General Ant¨®nio Guterres?during a ceremony?marking the?International Day of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Peacekeepers.
¡®Leading the way¡¯
Created in 2016, the award?recognizes the dedication and efforts of an individual military peacekeeper?in promoting the principles of the landmark Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Security Council??on Women, Peace and Security.
¡°?reminds us that our women peacekeepers are not only supporting global peace and security.?They are leading the way. By every measure, Captain Cecilia Erzuah of Ghana is one of those leaders,¡± said?Secretary-General Ant¨®nio Guterres.
¡°On every front, Captain Erzuah¡¯s work has set the standard for ensuring that the needs and concerns of women are reflected across our peacekeeping operations.¡±
¡®An award for all of us¡¯
Captain Erzuah?expressed her gratitude for being selected to receive the?prize, which she called ¡°an award for all of us,¡± referring to her platoon members.?
An advocate for gender equality and community engagement, Captain 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¡¯s and youth groups, to better understand and address community concerns and needs.
Together with civilian Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ colleagues, she has also?hosted discussions?on domestic violence, gender equality and childcare, resulting 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.
Monthly walks
The monthly market walks she initiated with her battalion also contributed to building?strong and enduring relationships?between traders, residents, and the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ.
In January this year, following a spike in community violence in Majbong, a village in southeast Abyei, Captain Erzuah¡¯s 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.
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.?
¡°The mixed patrols are¡boosting the confidence of members of the community to go about daily activities safely,¡± said Deng Paul Mankuol, a traditional chief in Majbong.
Captain Erzuah is the?first Ghanaian peacekeeper, and the first recipient from a contingent or a unit, to receive this prestigious award.
Ghana is the largest contributor of women military peacekeepers with 375 deployed.
