Major Abhilasha Barak to receive 2025 UN Military Gender Advocate of Year Award
New York, May 23
Major Abhilasha Barak has been awarded the 2025 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award, Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations said.
Barak is recognized for her outreach and community engagement activities for women and adolescent girls and gender sensitization training for peacekeepers.
In a post on X, the permanent mission said, "Proud to announce that Major Abhilasha Barak has been awarded the 2025 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. She is serving with the Indian Battalion as the Commander of the Female Engagement Team (FET) in UNIFIL. Major Abhilasha is also first woman combat helicopter pilot of the Indian Army. She is being recognized for her outreach and community engagement activities for women and adolescent girls and gender sensitization training for peacekeepers. She is the third recipient of the award from India, after Major Suman Gawani (2019) and Major Radhika Sen (2024)."
The Embassy of India in Beirut also extended greetings on the occasion.
In a post on X, the embassy said, "The Embassy extends heartiest congratulations to Major Abhilasha Barak on being honored with the prestigious UN Gender Advocate of the Year Award 2025 by the United Nations. Major Barak served with distinction as the Female Engagement Team (FET) Commander of INDBATT-XXVI."
The UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award is presented annually since 2016 to a military peacekeeper - male or female - who has shown outstanding commitment and leadership in promoting the principles of UN Security Council Resolution Resolution 1325.
The resolution calls on actors to mainstream a gender perspective in all aspects of peacekeeping and peacebuilding and to ensure women's participation in peace and political processes.
The Resolution also calls for the protection from, and prevention of, conflict-related sexual violence and for an expansion of the role and contribution of women in UN operations, including of uniformed women peacekeepers.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great to see India consistently contributing to UN peacekeeping in such meaningful ways. Major Barak's work with women and girls in conflict zones shows true leadership. But let's also remember the ground conditions for women in our own security forces—still a long way to go in terms of representation and infrastructure.
Women are taking charge everywhere! From fighter jets to peacekeeping missions, Indian women are showing the world what 'Nari Shakti' truly means. Proud moment for the nation. 🇮🇳👏
Impressive achievement. It's good to see the UN recognizing field-level contributions in peacekeeping. Major Barak's work with local communities is exactly what's needed in complex conflict environments. Well deserved award.
It's heartwarming to see Indian Army women being recognized globally. Major Barak's gender sensitization training for peacekeepers is crucial—peace missions need to understand how conflict affects women differently. We need more such initiatives back home too.
Third Indian woman to win this award in six years—that's an incredible track record. Shows India's commitment to gender equality in peacekeeping operations. Major Barak is a true trailblazer. 🌟
V Vikram M Excellent We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.