SRSG at his office with French UNMOs
On 7 September 2019, at Mission HQ in Laayoune, Capt. (Fr. AF) Valérie Vreullie and Capt. (Fr. Ar.) Ophélie Bernencker paid a courtesy visit to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara and Head of MINURSO, Colin Stewart. The visit coincides with the end of duty service of Capt. Vreuille in MINURSO. It is the first time that France’s contribution to the mission is 100% composed of female officers.
MINURSO is strongly engaged with the Secretary-General guidelines in increasing number and role of female military personnel among the ranks.
Currently, in MINURSO serve 53 female unformed personnel, out of 245 of the authorized mission strength; contingents provided by Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Jordan and Mongolia are as fully formed by female officers, while all the other contingents include at least one female officer.
This is in line with UN efforts to increase women’s leadership and participation in peace and security processes.