United Nations: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres conferred the ‘UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year’ Award on Indian Army Major Radhika Sen at the UN headquarters in New York. Major Radhika Sen is a true leader and role model and her service is a true credit to the United Nations, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, as he conferred a prestigious award on the Indian peacekeeper.
Major Sen, who served with the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), received the prestigious ‘2023 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award’ from Guterres during a ceremony at the world body’s headquarters on the occasion of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.
Calling on the UN and member states to tap into the rich network created by the award, Major Sen expressed hope that “one day a peacekeeper of another gender” will be honoured with this prestigious award.
“Gender-sensitive peacekeeping is everyone's business, not just us, the women. Peace begins with all of us in our beautiful diversity,” Major Sen, who served in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from March 2023 to April 2024 as the Commander of MONUSCO's Engagement Platoon for the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion (INDRDB), said.
"A gender perspective in UN peacekeeping is essential for an effective, inclusive and sustainable peace process. Women and girls are disproportionately affected in conflict, facing increased risk and abuse. The need of the hour is to mainstream the women in nation-building, particularly in sectors of security and governance,” she said.
As he presided over the ‘Dag Hammarskjold Medal' and ‘Military Gender Advocate of the Year' ceremony, Guterres said, “Major Sen is a true leader and role model. Her service is a true credit to the United Nations as a whole. Please join me in congratulating Major Radhika Sen of India. I could not be prouder to confer her with the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.” Guterres noted that as commander of the Indian contingent's engagement platoon, Major Sen led her unit on countless patrols. During these patrols, in an escalating conflict environment in North Kivu, her troops actively engaged with conflict-affected communities, including particularly women and girls. She earned their trust … doing so with humility, compassion, and dedication.” Born in Himachal Pradesh in 1993, Major Sen joined the Indian Army eight years ago. She graduated as a biotech engineer and was pursuing her Master's degree from IIT Bombay when she decided to join the armed forces.
