UNFICYP makes case for more women peacekeepers

A female lieutenant with UNFICYP says local concerns are consistently heard and addressed with more women peacekeepers on the ground.

The senior medical officer, who appeared in a video posted on Twitter by UN Cyprus on Monday, said women make a difference on the ground.

“Women peacekeepers often become role models for the communities we serve,” said the medical officer.

Earlier this year, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced for the first time in UN history that a peacekeeping mission is being led by all women.

That mission, the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Cyprus (UNFICYP), is under the leadership of Elizabeth Spehar, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Major General Cheryl Pearce, the Force Commander, and Ann-Kristen Kvilekval, Senior Police Adviser.

“Together, these three women oversee more than 1000 military, police, and civilian staff supervising the ceasefire line, maintaining the buffer zone, and working to find a political solution to the ongoing conflict between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots,” a UN statement said.

WATCH NOW: #UNFICYP's Senior Medical Officer speaks about why more women #peacekeepers increase the Mission's operational effectiveness in #Cyprus. #A4P #WPS pic.twitter.com/eFijV59nO8

— UN Cyprus (@UN_CYPRUS) September 30, 2019