Ghanaian female peacekeeper receives top UN Military Award

The United Nations (UN) has honoured a Ghanaian female  peacekeeper, Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme, as the 2024 recipient of the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.

The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, presented the award to her during a ceremony marking the International Day of UN Peacekeepers at the United Nations Headquarters in New York last Thursday (May 29, 2025).

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

The UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award has been presented annually since 2016 to a military peacekeeper — male or female — who has shown outstanding commitment and leadership in promoting the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

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 uniformed women peacekeepers. 

Citation

According to her citation, since her deployment in 2024 as the Mission’s Military Gender Advisor, Squadron Leader Syme’s work had directly impacted local communities, ensuring the voices and needs of women and girls were integrated into security and peacebuilding initiatives. 

As part of her efforts, she 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.  
 

Squadron Leader Syme is also said to have helped to strengthen the gender awareness and capacity of United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei’s (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 is said to have emphasised inclusivity, respect and cultural awareness, setting a benchmark for gender-responsive peacekeeping operations. 

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

“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” he added.  

In her remarks, “applying gender perspectives into daily tasks is the responsibility of every peacekeeper,” Squadron Leader Syme said.

Adding that “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”.   
 

About Squadron Leader Syme

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.

Her first peacekeeping deployment, she joined UNISFA in March 2024 as the Mission’s Military Gender Adviser.  

Alongside Squadron Leader Syme is Superintendent Zainab Gbla of Sierra Leone who has also been named the Woman Police Officer of the Year for her innovative community engagement initiatives that helped strengthen relations between host communities and the mission while establishing new crime reporting channels in Abyei, where there is no functional police service. 
 
Writer’s email:rebecca.quaicoe-duho@graphic.com.gh