Pakistani wins International Female Police Peacekeeping Award

Deputy Superintendent Shahzadi Gulfam became the first Pakistani female to win this prestigious award. PHOTO: http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/sites/police/index.shtml

NEW YORK: Deputy Superintendent Shahzadi Gulfam of Pakistan received the 2011 United Nation’s award for International Female Police Peacekeeper Award on Sunday.

The United Nations Police Division in the Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI), Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), and the International Association of Women Police (IAWP) International Scholarship Committee had awarded the 2011 International Female Police Peacekeeper Award to Deputy Superintendent Shahzadi Gulfam from Pakistan.

She is currently deployed in the United Nations Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) as the United Nations Police (UNPOL) Team Leader posted in the Timor-Leste National Police (PNTL) Vulnerable Persons Unit (VPU) in the capital Dili.

After completing her studies, Officer Gulfam had joined the Punjab Police in March 1985. During her career of over two decades, she performed equally well at the national and international level.

Officer Gulfam was the first Pakistani female to be deployed in the UN Mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1997, and subsequently served in UN Missions in Kosovo in 1999 and Timor-Leste in 2007.

Officer Gulfam was redeployed in 2010 in the United Nations Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT).

Speaking on Gulfam, UNMIT Police Commissioner Luis Carillho said, “UNPOL Shahzadi Gulfam has shown enthusiasm, diligence and zeal in her work with the Vulnerable Persons Unit in Dili. Despite working in difficult conditions, Officer Gulfam has played an exceptional role in supporting and protecting vulnerable persons”.

Currently, Officer Gulfam is responsible for facilitating the referrals to shelter and medical assistance to victims of domestic violence, as well as for reporting on missing persons and human trafficking. Her duties include liaising with the Justice Ministry to provide legal redress to victims. She also coordinates with health institutions on the provision of psychological support to victims.

The International Female Police Peacekeeper Award was delivered at the opening ceremony of the International Association of Women Police (IAWP) annual training conference on 21 August 2011 in Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

Twelve award applications, which represent female police officers from 11 countries serving in seven United Nations peace missions worldwide, were submitted for this competitive award.