Ayefoumi Agnon: Security isn’t just about police presence
Ayefoumi Agnon, Gender Based-Violence Adviser, Police and Corrections Officer at the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH)
From serving in Togo’s police to advising the UN in the Central African Republic and Haiti, Ayefoumi Agnon has a deep commitment to justice and protection. Her work shows that trust, dignity, and compassion can transform security for the most vulnerable.
Question: What motivated you to join the police forces in your country and, later, to serve with the United Nations?
Ayefoumi Agnon: What motivated me to join the police forces of my country was, above all, a strong desire to serve my community. I wanted to protect the most vulnerable, but also to help establish an environment of justice and security. I have always been driven by a strong sense of duty, fairness, and discipline. And I must also say that I have always also been inspired by the police uniform, which represents responsibility and pride in service. I was also very encouraged by my family and my colleagues from the Faculty of Law of the University of Kara. I’m grateful for believing in myself and for the encouragement I received.
Later, joining the United Nations was a natural next step. My superiors encouraged my secondment to a UN peace operation, and the UN gave me the opportunity to use my skills at the service of peace at international level. I enjoy working in multicultural environments and support missions where, protecting civilians, especially women and children, is a top priority. I see this as an honor and a responsibility.
Question: You mention the responsibilities that your work involves, can you tell us more about it?
Ayefoumi Agnon: As a police officer with the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti my work focuses on supporting the Haitian National Police (HNP), especially in areas related to gender-based violence. I work closely with my Haitian counterparts to help implement gender integration policies in line with the HNP strategic development plan.
For example, I advise and support them in preventing violence against women and children. Another part of my role is helping develop short- and medium-term prevention mechanisms. Overall, my goal is to strengthen capacity and build trust between the police and the communities they serve.
Colleagues from the HNP have been very welcoming and made me feel appreciated in my role as Gender and SGBV Advisor. While the situation is challenging, our shared commitment to working together helps us overcome obstacles and maintain effective communication.
Question: What do you think real security is about? Can you share a story that illustrates how the UN’s approach makes a difference?
Ayefoumi Agnon: Security isn’t just about police presence. It’s about trust, listening, and collective engagement with the local community. One experience in Haiti really stands out for me as an example of an intervention that made a difference. In a vulnerable neighborhood, there was a 14-year-old girl, who had survived sexual violence but was too afraid to report the crime. Her family feared retaliation and social stigma.
We have a small gender-based violence unit near the local police station with a trained officer in supporting survivors. She was able to gain the trust of the young girl by listening. And with BINUH, we helped her receive medical care, psychosocial support, legal assistance, and protective measures were put in place. Through our joint efforts, the perpetrator was identified.
That experience showed me how coordination among people with proper training, who know how to listen and respond with dignity, really makes a difference in someone’s life.
Question: What are the challenges women and girls face in conflict zones? Was there a moment that stuck with you?
Ayefoumi Agnon: One moment that really marked me was I was deployed in the Central African Republic. I accompanied two young women who had survived gender-based sexual violence. They were afraid to speak out because they didn’t think they would be believed.
My role as a trained UN police officer was to listen, build trust, and help connect them with the right support services and local authorities. That day, I realized something important: sometimes simply being supportive, patient, and guiding someone can change the course of a life. That’s why peacekeeping work remains so essential today: it puts human dignity and protection of vulnerable people at the center of peace and security efforts.