Video: "As women, as women officers, we can no longer afford to remain hidden figures in the implementation of (the) women, peace and security agenda," says Doreen Malambo on Nov. 3, 2020. (Xinhua)
"The world is full of opportunities, and I would encourage all the women and girls to dream," says Doreen Malambo.
UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chief Inspector Doreen Malambo of Zambia, currently serving in the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), was awarded the UN Woman Police Officer of the Year for 2020.
At a virtual award ceremony on Tuesday, UN Undersecretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix commended Malambo for her "exceptional commitment to gender equality, in particular to advancing the rights of women and girls, by empowering them to claim their rights and to enhance their full participation in social, political, and economic life."
Malambo has worked tirelessly with her colleagues inside and outside UNMISS to enhance the protection of civilians and encourage and empower both women and men to be advocates for the protection and advancement of the rights of women and girls. Malambo represents the very best of UN peacekeeping, he said.
Malambo was deployed to UNMISS from 2016 to 2018 as a joint integrated police trainer. She returned to UNMISS for a second time in 2019, and currently serves as a gender advisor.
Working with the UN Population Fund, Malambo helped establish the Stand Up for Rights of Women and Girls initiative that has helped to reduce and prevent sexual and gender-based crime in South Sudan. As part of the project, Malambo created a network of groups led by male local police officers to engage other men in the community to disseminate information and promote the protection and advancement of the rights of women and girls.
Malambo's previous UN experience includes deployment with the UN Mission in Liberia from 2008 to 2009, where she assisted the Liberia National Police to prevent and investigate sexual and gender-based violence and domestic violence. Her national experience spans 24 years with the Zambia Police Service.
In her speech, Malambo said policing is a challenging but rewarding profession.
The experience has been life-changing in many ways. Apart from new knowledge and skills attained, the opportunity to break ceilings, to be given leadership positions to explore full personal potentials is commendable, she said. "As women, as women officers, we can no longer afford to remain hidden figures in the implementation of (the) women, peace and security agenda."
This prestigious award is also dedicated to all the women and girls in South Sudan and in other missions where United Nations Police are deployed, said Malambo.
"The world is full of opportunities, and I would encourage all the women and girls to dream. I dreamed that one day I would get this award. It has come. It has become a reality. And dreams come true if you work hard for it."
The UN Woman Police Officer of the Year award was established in 2011 to recognize the exceptional contributions of women police officers to UN peace operations and to promote the empowerment of women.
About 11,000 UN Police personnel, 1,300 of whom are women, are currently deployed in 16 UN peace operations. ■
