Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme of Ghana is this year’s UN Military Gender Advocate award winner for her work boosting gender equality while serving with the UN peacekeeping mission in the disputed Abyei region (UNISFA) between neighbouring Sudan and South Sudan.  

She trained over 1,500 UNISFA personnel on gender-responsive peacekeeping in addition to working closely with local communities, including coordinating a highly effective health campaign to counter child marriage and female genital mutilation.  

UN News’ Naima Sawaya sat down with Squadron Leader Syme ahead of Thursday’s award presentation.