UNITED NATIONS, May 23, 2026 : Indian peacekeeper Major Abhilasha Barak, currently serving with the United Nations mission in Lebanon, has been selected for the prestigious 2025 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award in recognition of her outstanding outreach work with women and girls during her deployment.
The announcement was made by the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations through a post on X on Friday.
“Proud to announce that Major Abhilasha Barak has been awarded the 2025 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. She is being recognised for her outreach and community engagement activities for women and adolescent girls and gender sensitisation training for peacekeepers,” the Mission stated.
Major Barak is serving with the Indian Battalion as Commander of the Female Engagement Team (FET) under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
She is also recognised as the first woman combat helicopter pilot in the Indian Army, marking another milestone in India’s growing contribution to global peacekeeping and women’s empowerment initiatives.
Barak will be formally honoured at the United Nations headquarters during commemorations marking the International Day of UN Peacekeepers on May 29.
Her recognition marks another proud moment for India, making her the third Indian recipient of the prestigious award after Major Suman Gawani and Major Radhika Sen.
Major Suman Gawani, who served with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), received the 2019 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award alongside Brazilian naval officer Commander Carla Monteiro de Castro Araujo.
Major Radhika Sen, who served with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), was honoured with the 2023 edition of the award.
Established in 2016 by the Office of Military Affairs within the Department for Peace Operations (DPO), the award recognises exceptional contributions by military peacekeepers in advancing the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
The award specifically honours peacekeepers who effectively integrate gender perspectives into peacekeeping operations and community engagement initiatives.
According to UN Peacekeeping, nominees for the award are recommended annually by Force Commanders and Heads of Mission from peacekeeping operations worldwide.
India remains one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping missions globally. As of February 2026, UNIFIL comprised 7,538 peacekeepers from 48 troop-contributing nations, including 642 personnel from India — the fourth-highest contribution after Italy, Indonesia and Spain.
Earlier this year, India had strongly condemned attacks on UN peacekeepers deployed in Lebanon and urged all parties involved in the regional conflict to ensure the safety and security of UN Blue Helmets.
India also joined nearly 30 troop-contributing countries to UNIFIL in expressing deep concern over the escalation of hostilities in West Asia and condemning Hezbollah’s involvement in attacks linked to the Iran-Israel conflict.
