Major Abhilasha Barak has been awarded the prestigious 2025 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. She is the third recipient of the award from India, following Maj. Suman Gawani and Maj. Radhika Sen. The achievement is significant for India as it highlights the country’s growing role in United Nations peacekeeping operations and women-led peacebuilding initiatives.

About Major Abhilasha Barak

• Major Abhilasha Barak is an officer of the Indian Army and is widely recognised as the first woman combat helicopter pilot of the Indian Army. 
• She is currently serving in Lebanon as the Commander of the Female Engagement Team (FET) under UNIFIL.
• Major Abhilasha Barak has been awarded the prestigious 2025 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for her exceptional contribution towards women empowerment and gender sensitisation during her deployment with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). 
• Major Abhilasha Barak is the third Indian recipient of this prestigious honour, following Major Suman Gawani and Major Radhika Sen, who were honoured for their commendable work while serving in UN Peacekeeping missions.
• During her deployment, Major Abhilasha Barak worked extensively with local women and adolescent girls through outreach programmes, community engagement initiatives, and gender awareness campaigns. 
• She also conducted gender sensitisation training for peacekeepers deployed in the mission area.
• Her work focused on improving communication between peacekeepers and local communities, especially women, thereby strengthening trust-building and inclusive peacekeeping efforts.

• Major Suman Gawani had served with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and received the 2019 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. 
• Major Radhika Sen, who served with the United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), received the prestigious 2023 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.

About United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award

• The UN Military Gender Advocate Award was created in 2016 by the Office of Military Affairs under the Department for Peace Operations (DPO).
• The award recognises an individual military peacekeeper who has made outstanding efforts in promoting the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. This landmark resolution adopted in 2000 emphasises:
  • Increased participation of women in peace processes
  • Protection of women in conflict zones
  • Gender-sensitive peacekeeping operations
  • Inclusion of women in post-conflict reconstruction
• The award is given annually to a peacekeeper who has best integrated a gender perspective into UN peacekeeping activities.
• This year, the award will be presented at the United Nations Headquarters on the occasion of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers observed annually on May 29.

About UNIFIL

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was established in 1978 after the conflict between Israel and Lebanon.

Objectives of UNIFIL: 

• Monitor cessation of hostilities
• Support the Lebanese Armed Forces
• Ensure humanitarian access to civilians
• Maintain peace and stability in southern Lebanon

India is one of the major troop-contributing countries to UNIFIL. As of February 2026, India had deployed around 642 peacekeepers in the mission.

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India and UN Peacekeeping

• India is among the largest troop and police contributing countries to United Nations Peacekeeping missions worldwide.
• As of February 2026, United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) consisted of 7,538 peacekeepers from 48 troop-contributing countries.
• India has deployed 642 personnel in UNIFIL, making it the fourth-largest contributor after Italy, Indonesia, and Spain.
• In March 2026, India strongly condemned attacks on UN peacekeepers deployed in Lebanon and called for ensuring the safety and security of the “Blue Helmets.”
• India joined nearly 30 troop-contributing countries in expressing deep concern over the escalation of hostilities in Lebanon.
• The participating countries also condemned Hezbollah’s decision to join the Iranian attacks against Israel, describing it as a reckless escalation of the conflict.
• India has also been a strong advocate for greater participation of women in peacekeeping missions.