An Indian peacekeeper stationed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Major Radhika Sen, has been awarded the 2023 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award, the UN announced on Tuesday.
Major Sen served with the UN peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, in eastern DRC from March 2023 to April 2024 as the Commander of the Engagement Platoon for the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion. She played a pivotal role in establishing networks for local communities to voice their security and humanitarian concerns.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will present the award to Major Sen during a ceremony on Thursday. Guterres praised her service as “a true credit to the United Nations as a whole,” highlighting her engagement with conflict-affected communities, including women and girls, in North Kivu. He commended her for earning the trust of these communities through “humility, compassion, and dedication.”
In response to the award, Major Sen expressed her gratitude, emphasizing the collective effort of all peacekeepers working in the challenging environment of DRC. “This award is special to me as it gives recognition to the hard work put in by all the peacekeepers working in the challenging environment of DRC,” she said. She stressed the importance of gender-sensitive peacekeeping, stating, “Gender-sensitive peacekeeping is everybody’s business – not just us, women. Peace begins with all of us in our beautiful diversity!”
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, also praised Major Sen’s achievements in a post on X, highlighting her role in promoting peace and equality and describing her as an inspiration to all.
During her tenure, Major Sen led mixed-gender engagement patrols and activities in a volatile environment where many, including women and children, were fleeing conflict. She created Community Alert Networks in North Kivu, providing platforms for community leaders, young people, and women to raise their security and humanitarian concerns. As a Platoon Commander, she fostered a safe space for both men and women peacekeepers to operate together and quickly became a role model.
Major Sen’s initiatives included facilitating English classes for children and providing health, gender, and vocational training for displaced and marginalized adults. Her efforts inspired women’s solidarity and created safe spaces for open dialogue. In the village of Kashlira, she encouraged women to collectively address issues, advocate for their rights, and amplify their voices in local security and peace discussions.
Born in Himachal Pradesh in 1993, Major Sen joined the army eight years ago after graduating as a biotech engineer and pursuing a Master’s degree from IIT Bombay. She is the second Indian peacekeeper to receive this award, following Major Suman Gawani, a co-recipient in 2019. Past honorees have included peacekeepers from Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, Niger, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. India is currently the eleventh largest contributor of women military peacekeepers to the UN, with 124 now deployed.
Major Sen’s exemplary service underscores the invaluable role of women in peacekeeping missions and their impact on fostering peace and equality in conflict zones.
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