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  • Assistant Superintendent Doreen Malambo, a Gender Adviser with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and UN Woman Police Officer Awardee (right) pictured with UNPOL Strategic Planning and Communications Officer, Fardous Rahmani
    Assistant Superintendent Doreen Malambo, a Gender Adviser with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and UN Woman Police Officer Awardee (right) pictured with UNPOL Strategic Planning and Communications Officer, Fardous Rahmani

UN Woman Police Officer of the Year 2020 continues to inspire

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the United Nations Police Division interviewed Assistant Superintendent Doreen Malambo, a Gender Adviser with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the 2020 United Nations Woman Police Officer of the Year, about the impact of the Women, Peace and Security agenda on her work.

Ms. Malambo noted the progress that has been made in the 20 years since the adoption of Security Council resolution 1325, and said she was particularly pleased to see more women officers being deployed to South Sudan, including as part of all-women engagement teams.

“Having more women participate in peacekeeping missions has helped balance gender among field officers, and as of result, our contributions to the communities we serve have been much more effective,” she said.

She also discussed the Stand Up for Rights of Women and Girls initiative that she helped establish in South Sudan. She made a point to praise male officers from the South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS) for being proactive and eager to form networks of men to champion the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence in the country.

Ms. Malambo acknowledged that the pandemic has brought some challenges to her work.  

“Sexual and gender-based violence cases are on the rise, yet our colleagues from South Sudan National Police Service are not always able to fully engage with the community” due to lockdown measures, she noted.

However, we continue supporting the national police to address these challenges and distribute personal protective equipment, she said.

Malambo acknowledged that while the United Nations Woman Police Officer of the Year Award helps inspire women and girls, she remains determined to contribute to their empowerment through her actions, in particular, she remains motivated to achieve even more.

“I want to go beyond being a role model and help break the glass ceiling that still exists on top of us women, so we can build a better world,” Ms. Malambo said.

Watch Assistant Superintendent Doreen Malambo’s full interview on Facebook.