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Recently, Major Abhilasha Barak of the Indian Army was conferred the prestigious United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award, becoming the third Indian peacekeeper to receive this global recognition.

About the Award

The UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award is an annual international honour instituted in 2016 by the United Nations Department of Peace Operations (DPO) through its Office of Military Affairs.

The award recognizes military peacekeepers who have made outstanding contributions to advancing the principles of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) on Women, Peace and Security.

It aims to promote the integration of gender perspectives into peacekeeping operations and ensure that the security, protection, and humanitarian needs of women and girls are adequately addressed in conflict zones.

Key Features

• Awarded annually to an individual military peacekeeper serving in UN missions.
• Candidates are nominated by Force Commanders and Heads of UN Peacekeeping Missions.
• Recognizes innovations such as:
  • Gender-responsive peacekeeping.
  • Mixed-gender patrols.
  • Community engagement initiatives.
  • Capacity-building and awareness programmes.
• Provides a global platform for sharing best practices in gender-sensitive peacekeeping.

Major Abhilasha Barak

Major Abhilasha Barak is an officer of the Indian Army currently serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

She serves as:

• Engagement Team Commander, leading interactions with local communities.
• Gender Focal Point, acting as a bridge between UN military leadership and local women's groups.

Her contributions include:

• Addressing gender-specific security concerns.
• Improving outreach to women and vulnerable communities.
• Promoting inclusive community safety mechanisms.
• Strengthening humanitarian coordination and resource distribution.

Her work has helped enhance trust between local communities and UN peacekeepers in a sensitive conflict-affected region along the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel.

Indian Recipients of the Award

India has emerged as a significant contributor to gender-responsive peacekeeping: