Major Abhilasha Barak was honoured with the ‘United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently congratulated Abhilasha Barak on being conferred the United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award, one of the UN’s highest recognitions for promoting gender inclusion in peacekeeping operations.

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¨     Major Abhilasha Barak is currently serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and was recognised for advancing gender-responsive peacekeeping and strengthening the participation of women in peace and security initiatives.

¨     She became the third Indian woman military officer to receive the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award, further highlighting India’s growing role in UN peacekeeping operations.

¨     Major Barak is also known as the first woman combat helicopter pilot of the Indian Army.

UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award

¨     The award was instituted by the United Nations in 2016 to recognise military peacekeepers who promote the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS).

¨     It honours peacekeepers who advance gender equality, improve protection of women and children, and ensure gender perspectives are integrated into peacekeeping activities.

India and UN Peacekeeping

¨     India is among the largest cumulative contributors to UN Peacekeeping Operations, having deployed over 2.9 lakh peacekeepers in more than 50 UN missions since 1948.

¨     Indian women peacekeepers have played a pioneering role in UN missions, including the deployment of the world’s first all-women Formed Police Unit in Liberia in 2007.