Major Radhika Sen is a true leader and role model, and her service is a credit to the United Nations, said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as he presented the Indian peacekeeper with a prestigious ‘2023 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award’
“Please join me in congratulating Major Radhika Sen of India. I could not be prouder to confer her with the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award,” Guterres remarked as he presided over the Dag Hammarskjold medal and Military Gender Advocate of the Year ceremony.
Sen, who served on a mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was conferred with the military gender advocate award 2023 on May 30. On the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres awarded the Indian peacekeeper for her dedication and efforts in promoting the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.
The United Nations military gender advocate of the year is selected from among candidates nominated by force commanders and heads of mission from all peace operations. India currently ranks as the 11th largest contributor of women military peacekeepers to the United Nations.
Who Is Major Radhika Sen?
Born in Himachal Pradesh in 1993, Major Radhika Sen is a biotechnology engineer and was pursuing her Master's degree at IIT Bombay when she decided to join the armed forces in 2016. She was deployed to the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) in 2023.
Major Sen served with the MONUSCO as the engagement platoon commander with the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion (INDRDB) in the North Kivu province until April 2024. She is the second Indian peacekeeper to receive the prestigious gender advocate award. In 2019, Major Suman Gawani, who served in South Sudan, became India's first awardee.
"During these patrols, in an escalating conflict environment in North Kivu, her troops actively engaged with conflict-affected communities, including particularly women and girls," Guterres said, adding that she earned their trust. "Doing so with humility, compassion, and dedication." The UN chief stated that Major Sen offered a secure and welcoming space for women to share their views and concerns, allowing the mission to better react to their needs.
Speaking about her achievement, Major Sen told the Press Trust of India, "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 the Democratic Republic of Congo and giving their best to bring a positive change in society."
"Gender-sensitive peacekeeping is everybody’s business – not just us, women. Peace begins with all of us in our beautiful diversity!” Major Radhika Sen added.
Major Sen led mixed-gender engagement patrols and activities in a volatile environment, where many people, including women and children, were leaving everything behind to flee the conflict. She has been receiving congratulatory messages for her outstanding achievement and dedication to peacekeeping.
/shethepeople/media/agency_attachments/iUYfaBbcMozaYLoGnoov.png)
/shethepeople/media/member_avatars/6PFAqAWygpdpsW9HJtjQ.png )
Follow Us/shethepeople/media/media_files/612fFAwiRlwmqEwhAkuA.png)