India’s Major Radhika Sen receives UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award

Indian Army’s Major Radhika Sen received the United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award 2023 on Thursday for her contributions to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Major Sen was deployed to the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) from March 2023 to April 2024, where she took charge as the Engagement Team Commander of the Indian Rapidly Deployed Battalion.

The UN award is an acknowledgement of her remarkable efforts and advocacy for the rights of women and girls during her tenure as a peacekeeper.

The award ceremony took place on the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.

Radhika Sen is the second Indian peacekeeper to receive the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. Before Ms Sen, Major Suman Gawani was recognised for her service with the UN Mission in South Sudan. She was honoured in 2019.

In 2023, Radhika Sen was assigned to the MONUSCO (United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) in 2023. She served as the Engagement Platoon Commander with the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion till April 2024.