FEATURE: Hailed as ‘role models,’ all-female Indian police unit departs UN mission in Liberia

12 February 2016 – “We see you as family,” Liberian President Ellen
Johnson-Sirleaf recently told the women of the all-female Indian police
unit serving in her country under the United Nations flag.

“If I had my will, I would have recommended for another unit of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL)
to leave, so that the Indian Formed Police Unit (FPU) would continue
its stay in the country for the time being,” she said, speaking to a
large crowd at their recent farewell ceremony, organized to coincide
with India’s Republic Day.

Since 2007, there have been nine rotations of all-female police units
from India, whose primary responsibilities have been to provide 24-hour
guard duty and public order management and to conduct night patrols in
and around the capital, Monrovia, while assisting to build the capacity
of local security institutions.

On Sunday, 125 women and supporting personnel that constitute the
unit will pack their bags and return home to all corners of India
following their one-year rotation in the post-conflict nation. Since the
civil war ended in 2003, UNMIL has been supporting Liberia to rebuild
its institutions so it can maintain stability without its presence.

“When the local women see the female peacekeepers, they get inspired by
them – [they see] ladies can perform the same role as male
counterparts,” Colonel Madhubala Bala, the contingent’s commander, told
the UN News Centre in an interview.

And the proof is in the numbers. Liberian women now make up 17 per
cent of the country’s security sector, as compared to 6 per cent nine
years ago before the arrival and influence of the all-female Indian
contingent.

“They’ve served as role models for the local girls, and the effect on Liberian women was very significant,” added the Colonel.

In a statement issued today in New York ahead of this weekend’s departure, Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon paid tribute to the FPU’s “unwavering performance,
professionalism and discipline,” and commended its contributions in
creating an environment for the Government of Liberia to assume fully
its security responsibilities by 30 June 2016.

“Through their work, they managed criminality, deterred sexual and
gender-based violence and helped rebuild safety and confidence among the
population,” said the statement, in which Mr. Ban also underscored that
the conduct of the FPU served as an example of how the deployment of
more female uniformed personnel can help the UN in its efforts to combat
sexual exploitation and abuse.

“The Secretary-General thanks all the women who served in the FPU for
inspiring all Liberians, as well as current and future generations of
female police officers, and becoming role models for gender equality,”
the statement added.

According to the UN, India has been an unequivocal supporter of women
in peace and security worldwide. It is currently the fourth largest
police-contributing country with 1,009 police officers worldwide, and
the third largest contributor of female police officers with 115, just
behind Bangladesh and Nepal.

“You have certain professions that are seen to be traditional
masculine jobs,” explained Clare Hutchinson, a gender adviser for the UN
Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO).

“What we’re doing with the military and the police is breaking down
the perception that this is a male domain and that women can’t be
involved. We know that the obstacles aren’t that it’s too dangerous or
that they don’t want to travel or leave their children. Those aren’t the
most prevailing obstacles; it’s mainly that they’re not aware of
opportunities.”

Ms. Hutchinson emphasized that to increase the presence of women in
peace operations, the UN relies on its Member States to recruit them at
the country level first. To support the effort, the Organization has
helped train over 555 female police officers in five countries, leading
to 174 additional women being deployed last year.

(“They’ve served as role models for the local girls, and the effect on Liberian women was very significant.”)

Inspector Sangmitrai Kittappan, 40, was encouraged to join the Indian
police force by her family – especially her father and husband, who is
also a police officer. She has served two one-year rotations in Liberia,
returning in February 2015 for the second time because Ebola had
ravaged the country and she wanted to help.

“Female infanticide was [practiced] in our society. That’s why my
father always told me ‘one day you will play a big role in the world,
you will be an example to the female community,’” she said.

“Girls talk with us freely, there’re always asking if it’s hard to
live away from our families for a long time,” she added. “I tell them I
love my country and I want to sacrifice my life for my nation.”

Meanwhile, Inspector Santha Bhargavi, 49, shared that she especially
enjoyed helping to restore calm during riots, even when the situation
sometimes grew violent. “It was a very big moment for us,” she said. “We
controlled the situation, we are well trained. It is a pride for any
woman to serve in such a mission.”

The Indian contingent is not just controlling crowds; the women have
earned the respect of Liberians thanks to their engagement within the
community on many levels. For example, they gave map reading lessons to
their peers in the Liberian National Police. More broadly, they taught
Liberian women self-defence skills, conducted classes on sexual violence
and HIV/AIDS, and provided medical services. Some got involved with a
local orphanage and school in Congo Town.

“It was a challenging job 24 hours a day,” said 31-year-old
Sub-Inspector Subashini Mahunta. “It was a big responsibility to protect
the people, save strangers, and bring safety and comfort to the people.
Being a police officer is a very respectable thing.”

This message was recently echoed by many UN officials, who in light
of the contingent’s imminent departure, have been praising the women’s
important contribution to the nation.

“The all-female Indian FPU played an outstanding role in Liberia
since 2007 and put the soul of Security Council resolution 1325 into
operational action and visibility,” said UN Police Adviser Stefan
Feller, referring to the UN document adopted in 2000 that urges all
actors to increase the participation of women and incorporate gender
perspectives in all peace and security efforts.

“These courageous women patrolled Monrovian streets at night together
with their Liberian counterparts, maintained calm during the Ebola
crisis and devoted time and resources above and beyond the call of duty
to protect the communities. The legacy these peacekeepers leave behind
is the next generation of female Liberian leaders, already serving in
the national police today.”

Ten years ago, there were 16,000 UN uniformed personnel in Liberia.
By the end of June, there will be 1,240 military and 606 police. “The
all-female Indian FPU will not be replaced, but its legacy will continue
in Liberia and throughout peacekeeping,” said the Special
Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMIL, Farid Zarif.

“By having served with distinction, they have earned the deep respect
of the Liberian people, and have also made themselves, their families
and their nation very proud of their sacrifice and service,” he added.

Source: www.un.org