Indian Woman Peacekeeper Major Abhilasha Barak Honoured with UN Gender Advocate Award

Indian Army officer Major Abhilasha Barak has been awarded the 2025 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award , earning international recognition for her work in strengthening inclusive peacekeeping operations. The honour was presented by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres , who described her as a “trailblazing” role model .

The award ceremony was held at the United Nations to mark the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, observed annually on May 29. Major Barak is currently serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) as Commander of the Female Engagement Team within the Indian Battalion.

Guterres praised her contributions on the ground, noting that she has played a key role in making peacekeeping missions more responsive to the needs of women and vulnerable communities. He highlighted her extensive community outreach work, including vocational training, as well as education and health programmes for women and girls in conflict affected areas.

Her efforts have also focused on building trust with local communities, facilitating dialogue, and strengthening early warning systems that improve the protection of civilians in sensitive regions.

Significantly, Major Barak also holds the distinction of being the first woman combat helicopter pilot in the Indian Army , underscoring her pioneering journey in uniformed service.

India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Harish Parvathaneni, said her work reflects India’s continued commitment to UN peacekeeping and the Women, Peace and Security agenda , a framework that has gained increasing global relevance.

The recognition also comes at a time when the role of women in international peacekeeping is steadily expanding. Across UN missions, more women are being deployed in leadership, field operations, community engagement, and protection roles. Their participation has been widely acknowledged as improving access to local populations, especially women and children, and strengthening the effectiveness of peace operations in fragile environments.

With this award, Major Barak becomes the third Indian recipient of the UN Military Gender Advocate Award, following Major Suman Gawani in 2019 and Major Radhika Sen in 2023.

The award, instituted in 2016, recognises outstanding contributions by military peacekeepers in advancing UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security , which promotes greater inclusion of women in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.

At the same ceremony, the UN also honoured other global peacekeepers, including Stephanie Königs of Germany as UN Woman Police Officer of the Year, and recipients of the Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal for Exceptional Courage, recognising acts of bravery in high risk missions across conflict zones.