Indian Army Officers Recognized Among 2025 UN Military Gender Advocate Nominees

The United Nations Peacekeeping has revealed the shortlist for the 2025 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. This accolade acknowledges uniformed military personnel for their significant contributions to promoting the Women, Peace, and Security agenda within field missions. Nominees for this year include representatives from major UN peacekeeping operations such as UNIFIL in Lebanon, UNMISS in South Sudan, UNISFA in Abyei, and MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The award, presented annually on the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, May 29, honours the dedication, sacrifice, and professionalism of peacekeepers serving in conflict and post-conflict zones. Established in 2016 by the Office of Military Affairs under the UN Department of Peace Operations, the award highlights military peacekeepers who integrate a gender perspective into peacekeeping activities.

This year's shortlist is particularly significant for India, with three officers from the Indian Army featured among the nominees. The Indian officers nominated are Major Abhilasha Barak from UNIFIL in Lebanon, and Major Mouiz Yaseen and Major Soniya Newaskar, both from UNMISS in South Sudan. Alongside them, Major Maria Michela Tagliacozzi Lanciotti of Italy from UNIFIL, Major Patricia Asafo-Adjei of Ghana from UNISFA, and Major Rabin Thapa of Nepal from MONUSCO have also been highlighted, as noted in UN Peacekeeping's release and accompanying visuals.

Major Abhilasha Barak, currently serving with the Indian Battalion in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, has been named the recipient of the 2025 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. As the Commander of the Female Engagement Team in UNIFIL, Major Barak is also acclaimed as the Indian Army's first woman combat helicopter pilot.

This recognition marks another proud moment for India's contributions to UN peacekeeping. Major Barak's achievement makes her the third Indian peacekeeper to receive this award, following Major Suman Gawani, who was honoured in 2019 for her service with the UN Mission in South Sudan, and Major Radhika Sen, who received the 2023 award for her work with MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The award is closely aligned with the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security, which emphasizes increased female participation in peace processes, protection of women and girls in conflict zones, and integration of gender perspectives into peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations.

Nominees are chosen from candidates recommended by Force Commanders and Heads of Mission across peace operations, based on criteria like efforts to promote gender equality, integration of gender-sensitive approaches into military tasks, strengthening engagement with local women and girls, supporting protection mandates, and advancing the Women, Peace, and Security agenda.

The announcement was accompanied by photos of female peacekeepers in UN blue berets and mission-specific uniforms, symbolizing the expanding role of women in peacekeeping. These images underscore the diversity among troop-contributing countries and the emphasis on gender-responsive peacekeeping in missions where conflict, displacement, and insecurity are prevalent challenges.

For India, having three Indian Army officers on the shortlist underscores the nation's ongoing contribution to global peacekeeping and its growing engagement in gender-inclusive military operations. Indian women peacekeepers are increasingly involved in community engagement, patrols, liaison, protection, and outreach in complex mission environments, fostering trust with local populations, especially women and children.

Major Barak's role in Lebanon exemplifies the impact of Female Engagement Teams in modern peacekeeping. These teams serve as a vital connection between military peacekeepers and local communities, particularly where cultural and social barriers might restrict women from approaching male peacekeepers. Through outreach, dialogue, and confidence-building activities, these teams enhance understanding of local security concerns and bolster protection efforts.

The 2025 shortlist also highlights the international nature of UN peacekeeping, with officers from India, Italy, Ghana, and Nepal serving in locations such as Lebanon, South Sudan, Abyei, and the DRC. These officers represent varied military traditions but share a commitment to inclusive peace operations, demonstrating that gender advocacy is now an essential operational component in conflict zones.

The Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award continues to recognize peacekeepers who extend beyond traditional military duties to foster community trust, gender equality, and protection of vulnerable populations. By honoring such officers, the United Nations emphasizes that effective peacekeeping requires not only operational readiness but also empathy, inclusion, and understanding of the communities being served.

In total, three Indian Army officers were among the shortlisted nominees this year: Major Abhilasha Barak, Major Mouiz Yaseen, and Major Soniya Newaskar. Major Abhilasha Barak's selection as the 2025 award recipient further enhances India's standing in UN peacekeeping, placing her among a distinguished group of Indian officers who have earned international recognition for advancing the Women, Peace, and Security agenda.