STORY: AMISOM female peacekeepers call for gender

parity in peacekeeping missions

DURATION: 7:45
SOURCE: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
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LANGUAGE: ENGLISH NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 08/MARCH/2019, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

SHOT LIST

1. Wide shot, female peacekeepers serving under AMISOM gather in readiness

for the women’s day march
2. Mid shot, female peacekeepers serving under AMISOM holding the
International Women’s Day banner
3. Wide shot, female peacekeepers serving under AMISOM marching and
singing to celebrate International Women’s Day
4. Mid shot, female peacekeepers serving under AMISOM marching, dancing
and singing as they celebrate International Women’s Day
5. Wide shot, female peacekeepers serving under AMISOM marching, dancing
and singing as they celebrate International Women’s Day
6. Mid shot, female peacekeepers serving under AMISOM marching, dancing
and singing as they celebrate International Women’s Day
7. Wide shot, female peacekeepers arriving at the venue for the international
Women’s Day celebration
8. Wide shot, AMISOM peacekeepers mounting a guard of honor
9. Mid shot, AMISOM peacekeepers playing trumpets
10. Mid shot, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union
Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Madeira looking on
during the guard of honour
11. Wide shot, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union
Commission (SRCC) for Somalia Ambassador Francisco Madeira looking on
during the guard of honour
12. Mid shot, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union
Commission (SRCC) for Somalia Ambassador Francisco Madeira inspecting
the guard of honour
13. Wide shot, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union
Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, walking to
the venue for the International Women’s Day celebrations, after inspecting
the guard of honour
14. Wide shot, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union
Commission (SRCC) for Somalia Ambassador Francisco Madeira entering the
venue for the International Women’s day celebrations
15. Wide shot, participants attending the International Women’s day standing as
the Somali national anthem plays
16. Mid shot, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union
Commission (SRCC) for Somalia Ambassador Francisco Madeira standing as
the Somali national anthem plays
17. Mid shot, Ms. Rotimi Adelesi flanked by Col. Francis Kangwanda, standing as
the Somali national anthem plays
18. Mid shot, Uganda Police officers giving an introduction before singing the
Ugandan female peacekeepers anthem
19. Wide shot, Uganda Police officers reciting the Ugandan female peacekeepers
anthem
20. Mid shot, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union
Commission (SRCC) for Somalia Ambassador Francisco Madeira looking on
21. Mid shot, Uganda Police officers singing the Ugandan female peacekeepers
anthem
22. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) AMBASSADOR FRANCISCO MADEIRA, SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN UNION
COMMISSION FOR SOMALIA
“We honor the sacrifice you continue to make, thousands of kilometers away
from your loved ones, for the sake of peace not only in Somalia but Africa in
general. Your actions exemplify the true spirit of pan-Africanism, which our
forefathers advocated for during the struggle for independence.”

23. Close up shot, female peacekeepers listening during the event to mark the
International Women’s day held in Mogadishu Somalia
24. Wide shot, participants listening during the event to mark the International
Women’s Day held in Mogadishu Somalia
25. Mid shot, female peacekeepers listening during the event to mark the
International Women’s Day held in Mogadishu Somalia
26. Wide shot, female peacekeepers listening during the event to mark the
International Women’s Day held in Mogadishu Somalia
27. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) AMBASSADOR FRANCISCO MADEIRA, SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN UNION
COMMISSION FOR SOMALIA
“AMISOM female officers have also contributed immensely in training Somali
women security officers who are currently contributing to nation building by
performing various duties ranging from criminal investigations, crowd
management to intelligence gathering. AMISOM, on its part, will also
continue to encourage the AU member countries to deploy more women
peacekeepers when need arises.”

28. Wide shot, participants taking part in the International Women’s Day event
watching a video clip
29. Mid shot, participants taking part in the International Women’s Day event
watching a video clip
30. Close up shot, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union
Commission (SRCC) for Somalia Ambassador Francisco Madeira watching the
video clip
31. Mid shot, participants taking part in the International Women’s Day event
watching the video clip
32. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) MS. ROTIMI ADELESI, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF
POLICE FROM NIGERIA
“The work you have been doing, especially in the area of maintaining peace,
looking up for the young girls and the older women who have been
susceptible to different forms of violence (is commendable), and you should
not relent in your effort. We should all come together and speak together as
one.”

33. Wide shot, participants taking part in the International Women’s Day event
34. Mid shot, participants taking part in the International Women’s Day event
35. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, GLORY
URHERE, (REPRESENTING ACTING AMISOM POLICE COMMISSIONER)
“In line with the UN resolution 1325 (2000) and AMISOM mandate, AMISOM
police have continuously demonstrated its commitment to promoting the
participation of women in peacekeeping operations.”

36. Wide shot, participants taking part in the International Women’s Day event
37. Mid shot, AMISOM female peacekeeper reciting a poem
38. Wide shot, participants taking part in the International Women’s Day event
listening
39. Mid shot, AMISOM female peacekeeper reciting a poem
40. Mid shot, participants taking part in the International Women’s Day event
listening
41. Mid shot, AMISOM female peacekeeper reciting a poem
42. Wide shot, participants taking part in the International Women’s Day event
applauding
43. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) LYDIA YAAKO DONKOR, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER
OF POLICE FROM GHANA
“It is not just about women. The balance should be between men and women
because we need the equal participation of both men and women to achieve
any target.”

44. Mid shot, participants taking part in the International Women’s Day event
45. Mid shot, participants taking part in the International Women’s Day event
46. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) MONICA JOHNSON, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
OF POLICE FROM SIERRA LEONE
“I feel elated. I feel good as a peacekeeper serving in Somalia and celebrating
International Women’s Day. I am so happy about the recognition for women
today in peacekeeping.”
47. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) CORPORAL KYASIIMIRE EMILY, UGANDAN SOLDIER
SERVING UNDER AMISOM
“I encourage all women worldwide to work hard and be confident at work. It
is good to be in the armed forces. I have enjoyed it and I have no
complaints.”

48. Mid shot, AMISOM female peacekeepers from Ethiopia posing for a group
photo
49. Wide shot, participants taking part in the International Women’s Day event
50. SOUNDBITE: (KISWAHILI) SERGEANT LYDIA MUNEZERO, BURUNDIAN
SOLDIER SERVING UNDER AMISOM
“We the women have the ability and have demonstrated it. We are very
happy to mark this day”

51. Wide shot, participants posing for a group photo with the SRCC Ambassador
Francisco Madeira and other invited officials
52. Wide shot, participants gathered at the AMISOM Recreation Centre for an
evening party to mark the International Women’s Day in Mogadishu Somalia
53. Mid shot, SRCC Ambassador Francisco Madeira taking a seat upon arrival at
the venue for the evening function
54. Wide shot, dancers from Uganda People Defence Force (UPDF) entertaining
guests and other participants during the evening event to mark International
Women’s Day
55. Mid shot, dancers from Uganda People Defence Force (UPDF) entertaining
guests and other participants during the evening event to mark International
Women’s Day
56. Mid shot, dancers from Uganda People Defence Force (UPDF) entertaining
guests and other participants during the evening event to mark International
Women’s Day
57. Mid shot, AMISOM Deputy Force Commander in charge of Operations and
Plans Nakibus Lakara dancing during the evening event to mark International
Women’s Day
58. Close up shot, drum being played
59. Close up shot, dancer from Uganda People Defence Force (UPDF)
entertaining guests and other participants during the evening event to mark
International Women’s Day
60. Wide shot, dancers from Djibouti and Somali entertaining guests and other
participants during the evening event to mark International Women’s Day
61. Mid shot, dancers from Djibouti and Somali entertaining guests and other
participants during the evening event to mark International Women’s Day
62. Wide shot, dancers from Burundi entertaining guests and other participants
during the evening event to mark International Women’s Day
63. Close up shot, dancers from Burundi entertaining guests and other
participants during the evening event to mark International Women’s Day
64. Mid shot, dancers from Burundi entertaining guests and other participants
during the evening event to mark International Women’s Day
 65. Wide shot, dancers from Kenya entertaining guests and other participants
during the evening event to mark International Women’s Day
66. Wide shot, dancers from Nigeria entertaining guests and other participants
during the evening event to mark International Women’s Day
67. Close up shot, cake to mark International Women’s Day 2019
68. Mid shot, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union
Commission SRCC) for Somalia Ambassador Francisco Madeira flanked by Ms.
Rotimi Adelesi, Deputy Commissioner of Police from Nigeria and Ms. Lydia
Yaako Donkor, Assistant Commissioner of Police from Ghana, cutting the cake

AMISOM female peacekeepers call for gender parity in peacekeeping missions

Mogadishu, 9 March 2019 - Female peacekeepers serving under the African Union
Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) yesterday joined the rest of world in marking the
International Women’s Day, with a plea for gender parity in peacekeeping missions.

The women drawn from all the Troop and Police Contributing Countries (T/PCCs) and
Somali National Security Forces, gathered in Mogadishu to take stock of women’s
contributions to global peace and review the challenges facing them in the social,
economic and political fronts.

Donning white, purple and blue T-Shirts emblazoned with the words ‘better the
balance, better the peacekeeping’, the female peacekeepers kicked off the
celebrations with a march to highlight the important role women play in the
development of the continent.

The women later congregated at a conference addressed by the Special

Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for
Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, Deputy Commissioner of Police from
Nigeria, Rotimi Adelesi, and Assistant Commissioner of Police from Ghana, Lydia
Yaako Donkor, among others.

“We honor the sacrifice you continue to make, thousands of kilometers away from
your loved ones, for the sake of peace not only in Somalia but Africa in general. Your
actions exemplify the true spirit of pan-Africanism, which our forefathers advocated
for during the struggle for independence,” Ambassador Madeira observed.
The SRCC noted that female peacekeepers have immensely contributed to the
success of the AU Mission, by helping tackle sexual and gender-based violence,
advocating for the rights of vulnerable groups and capacitating their Somali
counterparts.

Ambassador Madeira said AMISOM will continue encouraging AU member states to

deploy more women peacekeepers when need arises.

In her speech, Ms. Adelesi lauded the peacekeepers for their sacrifice and
commitment and called for the increase in female representation in the AU Mission.

Her sentiments were echoed by Ms. Donkor, who hailed the female peacekeepers
for taking up roles, hitherto perceived as preserve for men.

“It is not just about women. The balance should be between men and women
because we need the equal participation of both men and women to achieve any
target,” Ms. Donkor noted.

Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Glory Urhere, who represented the Acting
AMISOM Police Commissioner, spoke of the achievements made by female AMISOM
Police peacekeepers and reiterated the mission’s commitment to gender parity,
noting that currently women make 18.5 percent of the police component.

“In line with the UN resolution 1325 (2000) and AMISOM mandate, AMISOM Police
have continuously demonstrated its commitment to promoting the participation of
women in peacekeeping operations,” Ms. Urhere stated.

She noted that the police component has continued to mentor Somali Police Force
officers in key areas including gender equality and mainstreaming.

Speaking on behalf of AMISOM Force Commander, Col. Francis Kangwanda, urged

Troop Contributing Countries to help increase the number of women in senior
decision-making positions within AMISOM military, saying female peacekeepers
were equal partners in the task of securing Somalia.

“It is important to recognize women as equal partners in the maintenance of peace

and stability not only in AMISOM but throughout the world and for this reason, I
propose an increased number of women, by the TCCs (Troop Contributing
Countries), in decision-making positions in the AMISOM military,” Col. Kangwanda.
Peacekeepers who took part in the celebrations expressed their joy and appealed to
their fellow women in the continent to continue championing gender equality.

“I am happy that the role of female peacekeepers in Somalia is being recognized,”

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Monica Johnson from Sierra Leone stated.

Corporal Kyasiimire Emily, of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF), urged
women in Africa to join the disciplined forces to help improve gender parity in the
security sector.

International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8, every year and has been a
focal point in the movement for women’s rights.