Marking International Women's Day, UN Chief Ban Ki-moon has appointed Ann-Marie Orler as Police Adviser for the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, which makes her the first woman to hold the top rank.
"Now, the United Nation's top cop is a woman. That is a wonderful way to celebrate International Women's Day," Ban told journalists in United Nations on Monday.
"Gender equality and women's empowerment are among my top priorities. Women are central to the Millennium Development Goals and all our hopes for progress and peace and stability and human rights," he noted.
Orler worked with the Swedish National Police for almost 20 years before joining the United Nations, and has served as UN's Deputy Police Adviser since 2008.
"This is a challenge but it's also exciting to be assuming the position of police advisor," Orler said shortly after Ban made his announcement.
"Today I feel extremely proud to be entrusted on this particular international women's day with the honour of leading the group of police professionals in peacekeeping operations," she said.
Presently, there are approximately 13,000 international police officers from 100 member-states serving in 17 peacekeeping operations.
{{/usCountry}}Presently, there are approximately 13,000 international police officers from 100 member-states serving in 17 peacekeeping operations.
{{/usCountry}}Referring to the contingent served by Indian police officers, Oler said, "In Liberia, the presence of an all female UN foreign police unit is giving new impetus to gender awareness in improving the host government's female police in general.