SP Sangya Malla bags UN award

Superintendent Sangya Malla of Nepal, currently serving in the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, awarded the 2021 United Nations Woman Police Officer of the Year. Photo: UN

NL Today

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Kathmandu: Superintendent of Police Dr Sangya Malla, currently working in the peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has received the 11th United Nations Women Police Officer Award.

The UN Peacekeeping Office announced that UN Secretary-General António Guterres handed over the award to Dr Malla.

Dr Malla is the Chief of the Health and Environment Unit of the Congo-based UN peace force. She had played an important role in the establishment of the Unit in Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC.

Malla, a medical professional by training, helped establish the unit, which is responsible for implementing policies and procedures concerning the health and well-being of personnel as well as United Nations Police environmental initiatives.

Her contributions have been especially important during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, past Ebola outbreaks, and natural and humanitarian crises such as the volcanic eruption in the city of Goma last May. During that emergency, her unit alerted the local population and UN staff of precautionary measures. 

“I am honored to receive this award, and I hope it will encourage more young women in my country and around the world to pursue careers in policing, which is still too often viewed as ‘man’s work’,” she said.