Major Abhilasha Barak Receives 2025 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award
Major Abhilasha Barak, an officer in the Indian Army, has been honored with the esteemed 2025 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for her groundbreaking work as India's first female combat helicopter pilot.
The award was presented to Major Barak by UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the UN Headquarters, acknowledging her significant contributions to the Women, Peace, and Security agenda during her service with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). She becomes the third Indian peacekeeper to receive this accolade.
In June 2025, Major Barak was deployed to southern Lebanon, where she served as the Engagement Team Commander and Gender Focal Point. Despite operating in a high-risk area, she successfully conducted a remarkable 539 gender-focused field activities over a six-month period, aiding over 5,000 local women through various programs in health, education, and vocational training.
Among the pivotal initiatives led by Major Barak were:
| The Lebanon Gender Initiative: An AI-driven platform for reporting gender-based violence and accessing resources. |
| ITEC Scholarships: Securing 75 scholarships for Lebanese women for technical training. |
| All-Women Patrols: Leading security patrols to foster local trust during high-tension periods. |
Prior to her deployment with the UN, Major Barak had already made history in 2022 by becoming the Indian Army's first female combat aviator. At the award ceremony, she remarked on her experience, noting that being the first woman combat helicopter pilot revealed how opportunities can enable women to overcome barriers and achieve significant milestones.
This award, initiated in 2016, underscores India's vital role in UN peacekeeping missions and its dedication to promoting gender equality.
