Freetown, Sierra Leone,15 May 2025 — Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Zainab Gbla of the Sierra Leone Police has been awarded the prestigious title of United Nations Woman Police Officer of the Year for 2025, in recognition of her outstanding service in international peacekeeping and grassroots community engagement.
CSP Gbla is currently deployed with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), where she serves as Chief Training Officer and heads the Capacity Building and Development Unit of the UN Police. Since joining the mission in April 2023, she has led transformative initiatives to empower local communities, particularly in the remote Tajalei area, where she was initially deployed as a gender officer.
Confronted with the challenges of limited formal education, Gbla spearheaded the establishment of a community school programme for village children. She collaborated closely with local residents, especially women, to supply educational materials and design visual teaching tools aimed at enhancing learning outcomes.
In a bid to further strengthen ties between the peacekeeping mission and the local population, Gbla also launched a community football team, organizing matches between residents and UN personnel. The initiative fostered trust and promoted unity in an area lacking formal police presence.
Her creative use of performing arts to engage children and youth proved pivotal in encouraging the reporting of human rights abuses and broadening participation in educational outreach. These efforts have improved local understanding of crime prevention, evidence preservation, and community-based policing.
Gbla’s award will be formally presented on 29 May 2025 during a high-level ceremony marking the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers at the UN Headquarters in New York.
The United Nations Police Division praised her as an exemplary officer whose work embodies the values of peace, service, and innovation. Her recognition underscores the growing global reputation of the Sierra Leone Police and highlights the country’s commitment to excellence in international peacekeeping.
