The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) was established in 2011 to support the implementation of peace agreements, monitor human rights, facilitate humanitarian aid delivery, and protect civilians, all critical for the stability of the world’s youngest nation. Operating amidst escalating violence, UNMISS comprises personnel from over 70 countries worldwide.
The award-winning police officer, who recently won this year’s Female Police Officer of the Year Award and returned to her home country after 18 months with UNMISS, shared insights on making an impact on the ground and emphasized the need for more women in the field. “Doing the right thing, trying to do the right thing, that’s why I’m a police officer: to help people and to assist those in need. My family are also police officers, so I don’t know if it’s in my genes, but you grow up with role models like your parents and want to follow them. My biggest motivation is that we can make a difference on the ground. That our presence as police officers really makes a difference. This difference is felt even in small interactions during patrols, and that’s very satisfying,” she stated.
Colleagues from Around the Globe
Stephanie Königs, an Inspector from Germany, noted, “It’s inspiring to work with colleagues from different countries, and I receive great support within the Mission. This experience has shown me that the world is very big, but also that we are very similar. We have so much in common, and we should focus on these commonalities.”
Invisible Values
Königs elaborated, “The real impact is made by the small, invisible things. For example, I interacted with young women who were initially hesitant to talk to us. But through these interactions, they opened up, shared, and were honest. They told us, ‘We weren’t sure whether to talk to you, but you gave us a good feeling.’ Thank you for that. I think most people don’t know that these kinds of small interactions happen in peacekeeping operations.” She added, “This requires patience and listening. This is only possible when you are genuinely interested in the stories and perspectives of the local community. To listen and try to understand because we are not walking in their shoes. We need patience to build trust, of course. Without trust, we cannot listen to anything because nothing will be shared. The goal is to build trusted relationships and ensure that the local population trusts the UN police so they feel comfortable sharing their concerns.”
‘Every Day Is Different’
Königs described her experience, stating, “Every day is different, and every day you wake up and start your duties, you don’t know what will happen. You don’t have an idea about the changes during the day. There is no typical day, and that has to do with the mindset you need to have. You don’t know who you will meet on patrol, what they will tell you, the security situation.”
More Women at the Table
Highlighting the benefits of being a patrol officer in the Mission, Königs said, “I was able to connect with women, children, and men in the communities. It’s not new for women to work as police officers in the United Nations. However, despite all the policies that are in place for women to be involved in operations within the UN, there are not enough women at the table. Therefore, during my mission, I would have liked to see more women alongside me in the meetings I attended, as many times I was the only woman at the table.”
