Nigerien Female Soldier Wins Peacekeeper Award

Inaugural winner of the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award, Major Aichatou Ousmane Issak. Photo: MINUSMA

A female soldier from Niger has been awarded the UN's first ever prize for peacekeepers who focus on the impact that armed conflict can have on women.

At a ceremony in London, the UK Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Baroness Joyce Anelay, presents Major Aichatou Ousmane Issak of Niger with the inaugural Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for her work in integrating gender perspectives into peacekeeping activities. Photo: UK Ministry of Defence

Major Aichatou Ousmane Issak was named the UN's Military Gender Advocate of the Year on Wednesday evening.

Maj Issak worked in the UN mission in Mali where she accompanied all-male patrols to make the peacekeepers more approachable, the UN news service reports.

She also trained her fellow peacekeepers to look out for the particular needs of women and children.

"I think as a woman I brought a different perspective in the peace process and some ideas that helped the men make some decisions,” she said.