Women Officers in UN Mission

Fijian Women Police Officers continue to stamp their mark in United Nations Mission areas.

Today we feature Assistant Superintendent (ASP) Mereani Vasakula who is currently serving under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

The officer from Vione, Gau in Lomaiviti with maternal links to Logani, Bau in Tailevu is a Performance Assessment Team Leader where she is tasked to oversee assessment programs in line with Performance Assessment Evaluation Standard Operating Procedures and UNMISS Commissioner's Directives in order to fulfill mission mandates.

With 18-years of Policing experience, she describes having the opportunity to serve in her second overseas mission as challenging but rewarding.

“I am married with five handsome boys and it’s not easy leaving your family and children behind and to stay in a mission area for more than a year.

It requires sacrifice and patience”.

“On my first mission serving under Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands in 2009 t0 2010, I was single and compared to my second mission now I can say it is more challenging.

But with challenges are rewards as I have been able to gain a lot of opportunities to advance my policing experience and knowledge”.

ASP Vasakula had attended Sila Central High School and moved onto Lelean Memorial School where she completed her Year 13 studies.

During the first few months of her UNMISS deployment she became a Certified Assessment of Operation Capability Instructor where she was tasked to prepare Formed Police Unit Assessment Teams according to UN Police Standards and propose them for potential deployment to UN peacekeeping operations.

“I am based in the Formed Police Unit (FPU)Coordination Office- Admin in UNMISS Headquarters in Juba.

I spent 5months in the Wau State and 9-months in this present post”.

“I’ve gained a lot of experience and there’s a lot of sharing of knowledge with colleagues from other countries.

We all understand that Fiji is a small country compared to other countries but we have made an impact in UN Missions in terms of our capabilities”.

She has thanked the Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho for giving her the opportunity to serve in the mission field.

ASP Vasakula said the support of her family has enabled her to focus and achieve many personal and professional milestones.

Her message to young girls and women, “Be yourself and have a positive attitude in everything you do”.