Female peacekeepers help bring sense of security among conflict survivors: Major Suman Gawani

Indian Army Major Suman Gawani, houred with prestigious UN vocate award, has underscored importance of female peacekeepers in front ranks, saying it helps bring a "sense of security" among survivors of a conflict. Gawani, a Military Observer formerly deployed with United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) received 2019 United Nations Military vocate of Year Award from UN chief Antonio Guterres during a virtual ceremony on Friday on occasion of International Day of UN Peacekeepers.

Accepting award, Gawani said in an audio mess that it is a "great hour and privilege” for her to receive award and she expressed gratitude to UNMISS and India for opportunity. She said that UMISS is making all efforts to deploy more female peacekeepers in front ranks and roles such as military observers and contingents “so that y can reach deeper into society and bring some sense of security to survivors of conflict.”

“With great pride, I accept this award on behalf of all Indian peacekeepers and remember those who have me supreme sacrifice for cause of peace,” she said.

“I would like to say we are change that we want. And we are ones we were waiting for,” she said.

Gawani underscored that women, peace and security are most important aspects of a society.

“ becomes relevant especially in places driven by conflict. Women and children, being more vulnerable, are worst hit in such situations,” she said.

Describing South Sudan as a “beautiful” country, she said working towards peace as a military observer in South Sudan has been a life changing experience for her and thanked her colleagues in Indian Army. Created in 2016, United Nations Military vocate of Year Award recognises dedication and effort of an individual military peacekeeper in promoting principles of UN Security Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security in a peace operation context, as minated by Hes and Force Commanders of peace operations.

Commander Carla Monteiro de Castro Araujo, a Brazilian Naval officer working in United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Central African Republic (MINUSCA), was also houred with award. For first time, two peacekeepers were jointly awarded for ir contribution to this important cause. This is first year prestigious award has gone to a peacekeeper from India. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres applauded Gawani and Araujo for ir “inspiring work” in promoting equality, saying ir contributions underscore importance of increasing number of women in UN peacekeeping.

Guterres underscored essential role played by women peacekeepers for success of UN peace operations. He lauded Gawani and Araujo, saying ir “inspiring work has me a remarkable difference in promoting equality and empowering local women and your own colleagues. Your contributions are proof that women peacekeepers are vital to peace and security everywhere.”

UN Chief ted that during her deployment with UN Mission in South Sudan as a Military Observer, Gawani mentored more than 230 Military Observers on conflict-related sexual violence and ensured presence of women military observers in each of Mission's team sites. She also trained South Sudanese government forces and helped m launch ir action plan on conflict-related sexual violence. India's Permanent Representative to UN Ambassor T S Tirumurti, in his mess on Peacekeepers Day, said that Gawani “epitomises, in many ways, rich values of Indian peacekeepers.”  

(Im Credits: pib.gov.in/)