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UN chief pays tribute to first ever all-female police unit in Liberia

Xinhua, February 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday paid tribute to the first ever all-female Formed Police Unit (FPU), which will end its mission in Liberia after nine years, said a statement of Ban's spokesman.

The secretary-general thanked all the women who served in the FPU for inspiring all Liberians, as well as current and future generations of female police officers, and becoming role models for gender equality, the statement said.

The 125 women and supporting personnel of UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) will return to India this weekend.

"Through their unwavering performance, professionalism and discipline, including during the Ebola epidemic, these brave women gained the respect of both the Government and the Liberian people," it said.

The UN chief commended the FPU for their contributions to creating an environment for the Government of Liberia to assume fully its security responsibilities by June 30, 2016, as mandated by the Security Council, it said.

"Through their work, they managed criminality, deterred sexual and gender-based violence and helped rebuild safety and confidence among the population," it added.

Ban also noted that "the conduct of the FPU served as an example of how the deployment of more female uniformed personnel can help the United Nations in its efforts to combat sexual exploitation and abuse," it said. Enditem