unficyp

Satu Koivu (Finland), Senior Police Adviser and Head of Police Component at United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
UNFICYP

Pursue peacekeeping ‘regardless of your sex’, urges Senior Police Adviser

26 August 2021
Interviews

As head of the police component at the United Nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), Satu Koivu says “good competencies and skillset”, regardless of sex, will go far for those with ambitions to pursue police leadership. 
 
With over 30 years of experience in law enforcement and policing around the globe, the Finland native acknowledges choosing a career in the force at 18 years old, was not typical for females at the time, and is optimistic other women will continue to find their place in the field.

Audio -
12'32"
Lt. Col. Ján Hric, Commanding Officer, donates blood with other blue helmets in Sector 4 of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
UNFICYP

Filling ‘big boots’ at the UN’s Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus

15 June 2021
Interviews

When Lieutenant Colonel Ján Hric took command of what’s known as Sector 4 in the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, UNFICYP, he realized that he had “big boots to fill”.

Audio -
6'26"
Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), Elizabeth Spehar.
United Nations/Video Capture

Policing a 50-year rift: the UN Mission in Cyprus

23 January 2020
Interviews

The United Nations has been involved in the divided island of Cyprus for more than half a century.

Conor Lennon asked Elizabeth Spehar, head of the UN Mission in Cyprus, to explain why the UN is still needed on the island.

Audio -
11'47"
Since fighting erupted between Greek and Turkish Cypriots in 1974, the area dividing Greek Cyprus from its Turkish counterpart, abandoned and left virtually untouched by human activity, has fallen within a buffer zone controlled by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). (file)
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders ready for talks with UN chief on improved relations

9 August 2019
Peace and Security

Leaders of the Greek and Turkish parts of the divided island of Cyprus have agreed to meet with the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, in order to “plan the way forward”, and improve the daily lives of all Cypriots, a statement from the UN Mission in Cyprus, declared on Friday.

Major General Cheryl Pearce of Australia (centre left) serves as Force Commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
UNFICYP

Judge me on my abilities, not my gender: Cyprus mission Force Commander on being part of first all-female leadership team

2 August 2019
Interviews

The UN’s peacekeeping mission in Cyprus is the first to be led solely by women

Force Commander Major-General Pearce, of Australia, told May Yaccoub, from UN News, that the idea of ‘breaking a glass ceiling” is not something that she thinks about very often.

Audio -
10'44"
Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), Elizabeth Spehar.
United Nations/Video Capture

Security Council extends UN mission in Cyprus mandate by six months as ‘challenges on the ground’ persist

26 July 2018
Interviews

On Thursday, the UN Security Council extended the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) by six months.  Elizabeth Spehar, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Cyprus and Head of UNFICYP – told UN News why UNFICYP is still needed today.

Audio -
2'55"
Major General Mohammad Humayun Kabir of Bangladesh, Force Commander of UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) shaking hands with a female peacekeeper.
UNFICYP

Effective peacekeeping “virtually impossible” without women troops: UN Force Commander

6 February 2018
Interviews

It is “virtually impossible” to fully serve and protect civilians who rely on UN peacekeeping missions around the world without the participation of women within the ranks.

Audio -
8'26"
Taking a break from work, a woman breastfeeds her 10-month-old son.
UNICEF/NYHQ2014–3654/Nesbitt

UN Gender Focus: breastfeeding, human trafficking and peacekeeping

4 August 2016
UN Gender Focus

50% of children born each year “not being put to the breast soon enough”

Audio -
10'
Lakshmi Puri.
UN Photo/Loey Felipe

UN Gender Focus: poverty eradication, female peacekeepers and drug abuse by women

2 June 2016
UN Gender Focus

“Virtuous” not “vicious” cycle needed to tackle poverty, gender equality

Audio -
10'
Force Commander Major-General Kristin Lund at the UN Radio studios in New York.
UN Radio

Female peacekeepers gain trust, valuable intelligence from local women

28 May 2016
General News

Female peacekeepers deployed by the United Nations are able to gain valuable intelligence after winning the trust of local women in countries like Afghanistan.

Audio -