India’s Major Abhilasha Barak, the country’s first female combat helicopter pilot, was awarded the UN 2005 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres commended her for promoting women’s roles in peacekeeping, emphasizing that leadership and service to humanity transcend gender. Major Barak, stationed in Lebanon, a high-risk UN peacekeeping area, highlighted the importance of inclusive voices and empowerment for lasting peace.
Guterres also posthumously honored two Indian peacekeepers, Lance Havildar Harbhajan Singh and Naib Subedar Sujit Kumar Pradhan, with the Dag Hammarskjold award. Assistant Secretary-General Lisa Buttenheim praised Major Barak’s contributions to advancing the women, peace, and security agenda within military operations. Her initiatives, including community trust-building and support programs for women and girls, have enhanced the mission’s ability to protect civilians.
Major Abhilasha Barak, the Engagement Team Commander and Gender Focal Point in the Indian Battalion with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), is recognized as the third Indian woman officer to receive the Military Gender Advocate Award. Reflecting on her military journey, she emphasized how opportunities empower women to break barriers and achieve milestones. Barak, among the 13 female Indian peacekeepers in UNIFIL, is part of the 650-strong Indian peacekeeping contingent within the mission, contributing to the UN’s total deployment of 4,278 Indian peacekeepers.
