As the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence comes to an end, the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) is spotlighting the dedicated personnel who weave the principles of gender equality and protection into the fabric of its daily operations. Leading this charge are Lauren McAlister, the Mission’s Gender Affairs Officer, and Louise Long, the Gender Focal Point for UN Police (UNPOL) on the island.
Though their paths to Cyprus differ, their objective is unified: to eradicate the scourge of gender-based violence and ensure the Mission is a source of support, not silence, for those at risk.
Lauren McAlister brings a strategic, mission-wide perspective to the challenge. She outlines the difficulties of creating lasting change with frequently rotating personnel but emphasizes that training on preventing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is non-negotiable. “Training often focuses on the ways in which gender inequality, power imbalance, bias and stereotyping fuels gender-based violence,” McAlister explains.
Her work extends deep into the community, collaborating with local women’s organizations from both communities on the island to strengthen CSOs work on awareness raising to challenge the patriarchal norms that enable violence.
This expertise was directly applied during the Mission’s support for asylum seekers stranded in the buffer zone, where her, in collaboration with civilians, military and police, developed specific training for personnel to ensure a gender-responsive operation in that highly sensitive context.
On the policing front, these principles are put into practice by Louise Long. Deployed from the Irish police force, An Garda Síochána, where she served in a specialized SGBV unit, Long brings a vital victim-centred perspective from her experience in Ireland's multi-cultural society, helping victims from all countries and backgrounds.
“In my current role, I draw heavily on this expertise to ensure all UNPOL personnel are equipped to identify and deal with SGBV-related issues sensitively and professionally,” says Long, who is also excited to lead UNPOL’s engagement for the 16 Days of Activism. She notes that her background in Ireland, where gender-based violence is not accepted and is met with strong laws and dedicated units, has provided a solid foundation for her work in the mission.
Their collaboration is key. McAlister’s office helps set the Mission’s strategic gender priorities, while Long ensures they are translated into actionable skills for every police officer on patrol. This link is vital in a peacekeeping context, which McAlister describes as a “microcosm” of the global challenge of underreported SGBV crimes.
Both women advocate for a survivor-centred approach, guided by the UN’s zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse. For Long, the duty is clear, informed by her frontline experience in Ireland: “There is no room for it in our society. It is important that we are not bystanders in the face of such abusive conduct.”
Together, McAlister and Long represent UNFICYP’s unwavering commitment to making gender equality and the eradication of violence a lived reality, both within the Mission and in the communities it serves.
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is a global civil society led campaign that runs from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on 10 December, International Human Rights Day, highlighting that violence against women is the most pervasive breach of human rights worldwide. Launched in 1991 by activists at the inaugural Women's Global Leadership Institute it has mobilized individuals, civil society, governments, and international organizations to advocate for the elimination of violence against women and girls.
