Major Sania Safdar of the Pakistan Army has been honored as the first UN peacekeeper in Cyprus to receive the 2023 ‘Certificate of Recognition’ for her dedication to promoting gender equality. The award was presented by Colin Stewart, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Cyprus.
Serving as the Mission’s Force Signal Officer with the United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), Major Safdar has significantly advanced the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda through her role. She has been instrumental in managing communication systems and integrating gender equality initiatives within the mission’s operations since her deployment last year.
Established in 2016, the “UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award” acknowledges the efforts of military peacekeepers in furthering the objectives of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security. Major Safdar’s recognition underscores the Pakistan Army’s contributions to these goals in Cyprus.
UNFICYP noted Major Safdar’s pivotal role in enhancing joint patrols and integrating communication tools, which has improved military operations and gender representation within the force.
Since 1960, Pakistan has been a significant contributor to UN peacekeeping operations, deploying over 200,000 personnel to 46 missions. Currently, the country provides more than 4,000 troops for various UN operations and has lost 172 soldiers in the course of peacekeeping missions.