Pride india.

 “Indian women who received the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award”

 Indian recipients:

1. Major Suman Gawani — 2019 (co-recipient)

Suman Gawani

First Indian to receive the award.

Served with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Recognized for promoting women’s participation, mentoring military observers, and integrating gender perspectives in peacekeeping. 

2. Major Radhika Sen — 2023 Award (presented in 2024)

Radhika Sen

Served with MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Led community engagement efforts, supported women and girls in conflict-affected areas, and helped create community alert networks for security and humanitarian concerns. 

3. Major Abhilasha Barak — 2025 Award

Abhilasha Barak

Serving with UNIFIL in Lebanon.

Honoured for outreach work with women and adolescent girls and for gender-sensitisation training of peacekeepers. She is also known as the Indian Army’s first woman combat helicopter pilot. 

 India has produced multiple UN Military Gender Advocate awardees, reflecting its long and significant role in UN peacekeeping missions.