Major Abhilasha Barak Wins UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award
Indian Army officer Major Abhilasha Barak has been named the 2025 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year for her work with UNIFIL in Lebanon. She is India's first woman combat helicopter pilot and the third Indian to receive this honor.
Major Abhilasha Barak of the Indian Army has been named the recipient of the prestigious 2025 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. The award was presented by UN Secretary-General António Guterres at a ceremony held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on June 5, 2026.
Contributions
Major Barak was honored for her outstanding work as an Engagement Team Commander and Gender Focal Point within the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Her efforts focused on extensive outreach to women and adolescent girls in the region, as well as providing gender sensitization training for fellow peacekeepers. She played a crucial role in bridging the gap between the peacekeeping mission and local communities, particularly women in conflict-affected areas.
Historic Achievements
Major Abhilasha Barak is the first woman combat helicopter pilot of the Indian Army, a trailblazing achievement in its own right. She is also the third Indian peacekeeper to receive this prestigious award, following Major Suman Gawani (2019) and Major Radhika Sen (2023). Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally congratulated her, praising her exemplary service and highlighting it as a proud moment for India's contribution to global peacekeeping.
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