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Herald Reporter
A Zimbabwean peacekeeper has won the prestigious 2021 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for the first time ever, the UN Peacekeeping Office said on Tuesday.
Major Winnet Zharare (39), has advocated for gender parity and women’s participation within her own ranks, among local military counterparts and in host communities throughout her 17-month-long service with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
As the chief military Information Officer in the UNMISS Bentiu field office, Maj Zharare is credited for helping ensure that patrols included both women and men to improve protection and build trust between host communities and the Mission.
She also contributed to an increase in gender-aggregated data so that issues raised by local women and girls would gain appropriate attention.
Said UN secretary-general António Guterres: “Through her service, she has demonstrated the invaluable role that women play in building trust, advocating for change and forging peace.”
Mr Guterres described Maj Zharare as “a role model and a trailblazer”.
He will present her with the award tomorrow during a ceremony marking the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.
Maj Zharare advocated for gender parity and women’s participation in a traditionally male-dominated environment that excluded women from decision-making.
She also encouraged local civilian and military authorities and community representatives to involve women in UN meetings.
Her diligence and diplomatic skills quickly gained her the trust of local military commanders who would systematically reach out to her on women’s protection and rights.
During her patrols and numerous community engagement initiatives, the highly-regarded UN peacekeeper successfully encouraged men and women to work together in farming and constructing dikes around Bentiu town to alleviate food shortages and prevent further displacement.
Established in 2016, the UN “Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award” recognises the dedication and efforts of an individual military peacekeeper in promoting the principles of landmark resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.
Mr Guterres said Major Zharare’s example shows “how we will all gain with more women at the decision-making table and gender parity in peace operations”.
Expressing her gratitude, Maj Zharare said being selected for the award “motivates her to maintain her course towards gender equality”.
Maj Zharare hails from Mhondoro where her parents raised their seven children without gender stereotyping.
“My parents gave us equal opportunities with my brothers, so I believe that equal opportunities should be given to both men and women in all aspects of life,” she said.
From 2015 to 2019, she worked as a Protocol Officer before being nominated to serve in UNMISS as a Military Observer in Bentiu, in roles that included chief information officer, training officer and gender focal point.
When her tour of duty there ended in April, Maj Zharare returned to serve her country.
Before joining UN peacekeeping, her military career began in 2006 as a Second Lieutenant and later an Infantry Platoon Commander, where she doubled as a matron in Mutare. – Additional reporting: UN News
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