The 2022 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award will be given to a Ghanaian peacekeeper, Captain Cecilia Erzuah serving with the United Nations Interim Security Force in Abyei (UNISFA).
Erzuah, 32, who has served in Abyei as the Commander of the Ghana Engagement Platoon since March 2022, would receive the award from Secretary-General António Guterres, according to a statement issued by the UN Department of Global Communications and signed by Cynthia Prah, the Public Information Officer at the UN Information Centre, Accra, / Resident Coordinator’s Office.
This would be done at a ceremony that marks the International Day of UN Peacekeepers on Thursday, May 25, 2023.
The UN “Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award,” established in 2016, honours a military peacekeeper’s dedication and efforts in promoting the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, praised Captain Erzuah for her contribution to ensuring that women’s issues are addressed in peacekeeping operations.
“Resolution 1325 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 who has shown what being a Ghanaian peacekeeper is, hence, she is deserving of this award.”
“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, ” he said.
Captain Erzuah expressed her appreciation for being selected for the award, which she described as “an award for all of us,” referring to her platoon members.