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UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award
Major Abhilasha Barak, serving as Engagement Team Commander and Gender Focal Point in UNIFIL (Lebanon), receives the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. The award recognises military peacekeepers’ outstanding commitment to the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.
UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award:
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Aim | Provides for recognition of military peacekeepers’ outstanding commitment to the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security. |
| Established by | Established under the United Nations Department of Peace Operations (DPO), in collaboration with the Office of Military Affairs. |
| Launch year | Has been launched in 2016 by the United Nations Department of Peace Operations (DPO). |
| Eligibility | Applies to individual military peacekeepers in UN missions who show outstanding commitment to the principles of UNSC Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security. |
| Recent awardee and posting | Major Abhilasha Barak serves as Engagement Team Commander and Gender Focal Point in UNIFIL (Lebanon), and has been awarded the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. |
| Indian recipients (year-wise) | Comprises Major Abhilasha Barak (2025), Major Radhika Sen (2023), and Major Suman Gawani (2019). |
| India’s UN peacekeeping role | India is among the largest troop contributors to UN peacekeeping. |
| UN peacekeeping definition | Comprises a global partnership deploying international military, police, and civilian personnel to help countries transition from conflict to peace. |
| UN peacekeeping authorisation | Authorised by the UN Security Council. |
| UN peacekeeping core principles | Comprises 3 core principles: consent of the parties, impartiality, and non-use of force except in self-defense. |