2024 United Nations Military Gender Advocate Award recipient Squadron Leader Syme engages with media

Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme of the Ghana Armed Forces, recipient of the 2024 United Nations Military Gender Advocate Award, has emphasized that empowering women in peacekeeping enhances team cohesion, promotes inclusive peacebuilding, and leads to lasting positive transformation in communities. She encouraged young women aspiring to become peacekeepers to remain focused and persevere in their roles.

She made these remarks during a media engagement in Accra, organized by the UN Information Centre (UNIC Accra) in collaboration with UN Women and the Ghana Armed Forces. The event provided local journalists the opportunity to interact with Squadron Leader Syme and learn about her experiences and insights from her 15-month deployment as a Military Gender Advisor with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). She highlighted her responsibilities during the mission and underscored the critical role women play in peacekeeping and in conflict resolution, as well as the importance of gender parity in peace support operations.

In her opening statement, UN Women’s Senior Gender Specialist, Afua Ansre, noted, “Squadron Leader Syme’s recognition is also a call to redouble efforts in removing barriers for women in the security sector and in promoting their continued leadership.”

Captain (Ghana Navy) Veronica Adzo Arhin, Acting Director General of the Department of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces, commended Squadron Leader Syme for her exceptional contribution to gender advocacy, stating: “Her achievements speak volume and clearly show that gender mainstreaming in the Ghana Armed Forces is not just a checkbox exercise but a firm commitment being put into practice.” She added that Ghana continues to set a strong example in gender inclusion within peacekeeping, especially as this marks the country’s second such award in under four years.

Also present at the event were Colonel Elvis Asamoah, focal point for the Elsie Initiative Fund, a partnership between Canada and UN Women which aims to accelerate progress towards achieving UN gender parity targets in peacekeeping forces, Mathias Atteng, National Peace and Development Advisor at the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office in Accra, Ms. Cynthia Prah, the National Information Officer of UNIC Accra, as well as representatives of CSOs.

Squadron Leader Syme is an old student of Bolgatanga Girls' Senior High School and a graduate of the University for Development Studies, Tamale. She has a Master's Degree in International Health from the Tokyo University, Japan and a second Master's Degree in Dietetics from the University of Ghana Legon.