Tunis: Tunisian military, Major Ahlem Douzi was presented with the 2024 United Nations Trailblazer Award for Women Justice and Corrections Officers, at a ceremony held Tuesday at the UN headquarters in New York.
Major Douzi is deployed to the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) in May 2021 and is based in Goma, North Kivu province.
She has spearheaded a series of unprecedented technical investigations into serious crimes and attacks against civilians and peacekeepers that have laid the foundation for holding perpetrators accountable, said the United Nations Department of Peace Operations.
She currently serves as a Military Armament and Ammunition Expert within MONUSCO’s Prosecution Support Cell. As one of the first peacekeepers deployed to the Mission with forensic analysis and ballistic expertise, she provides expert guidance to Congolese and UN investigators for collecting, safeguarding and preparing trial evidence, according to the same sou
rce.
Expressing her gratitude at the ceremony, Major Ahlem Douzi said: ‘As a Tunisian Military Officer, I am deeply honored and grateful to be recognized with this Award for women justice and correction officers in peace operations. Working as a woman in a male-dominated field certainly presents its challenges. However, I see it as an opportunity to break down gender barriers and pave the way for other women who aspire to pursue careers in similar professions.’
Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix said ‘Major Douzi has indeed blazed a trail. She continues to supervise many technical investigations that have never been carried out in the mission before. Her service and dedication demonstrate how United Nations personnel can successfully serve local communities and provide specialized expertise and support to national authorities when requested.’
‘Women justice and corrections officers are living examples of the importance of women serving visibly and capably in male-dominated sp
heres. “Thanks to the incredible work of women like Major Douzi women and girls worldwide can see that the United Nations,” UN Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous pointed out.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad expressed its pride and honour in this prize awarded to Major Ahlam Douzi, who has been attached since May 2021 to the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
The crowning of a Tunisian woman with this prestigious award, among a final list of 100 women nominated by UN peace missions, is a renewed proof of the high confidence enjoyed by national military, security and judicial personnel within UN peace missions.
It is also a recognition of their valuable contributions in supporting international efforts to maintain and strengthen international peace and security, especially on our African continent.
The Trailblazer Award is an initiative established in 2022 by the Justice and Corrections Servi
ce of the Office for the Rule of Law and Security Institutions. It recognizes the outstanding contributions of women justice and corrections officers deployed as government-provided personnel to United Nations peace operations and challenges gender stereotypes and gender-related barriers by showcasing their achievements.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse