Kenyan Peacekeeper Bags Prestigious UN Award

Kenyan peacekeeper Steplyne Nyaboga has been named the winner of the 2020 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. 

Nyaboga, who recently completed her assignment in Darfur, Sudan will receive the award during the International Day of UN Peacekeepers on Thursday.

The event, which will be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will be presided over by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

The 32-year-old becomes the first Kenyan to bag the prestigious award that was created in 2016 to recognize the efforts of military peacekeepers in promoting the principles of UN Security Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security in a peace operation context, as nominated by Heads and Force Commanders of UN peace operations.

“I am so elated that our efforts in serving humanity have an impact and didn’t go unnoticed. Peacekeeping is a human enterprise: placing women and girls at the center of our efforts and concerns will help us better protect civilians and build a more sustainable peace,” said Nyaboga on receiving the award.

Major Nyaboga was deployed to the United Nations–African Hybrid Union Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) mission in February 2019. 

During the two-year mission, she worked diligently to mainstream gender in military components by creating awareness of gender dynamics in the field.

Nyaboga encouraged gender-sensitive outreach to local communities in a bid to enhance the protection of civilians.

She focused on gender training for her fellow military peacekeepers, training about 95 percent of the UNAMID’s military contingent by December 2020.

She also organized campaigns and workshops for staff and civil society activists to address issues affecting Darfuri women and girls.