United Nations: Indian woman peacekeeper Major Radhika Sen, who served with the United Nations mission in Congo (DRC), has been honored with the prestigious military gender advocate award, marking the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.
Major Sen, who served in eastern DRC from March 2023 to April 2024 as the Commander of the Engagement Platoon for the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion, helped establish networks for local people to voice their security and humanitarian concerns.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who bestowed Major Sen with the award at a ceremony on May 30, described her service as “a true credit to the United Nations as a whole”.
“In an escalating conflict environment in North Kivu, her troops actively engaged with conflict-affected communities, including women and girls,” he explained, noting that she earned their trust “with humility, compassion, and dedication”.
Upon receiving news of the award, Major Sen expressed gratitude for being selected and reflected on her peacekeeping role. “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. Gender-sensitive peacekeeping is everybody’s business, not just us women. Peace begins with all of us in our beautiful diversity!” she said.
The second Indian peacekeeper to receive the award after Major Suman Gawani, a co-recipient for 2019 -- Major Sen led mixed-gender engagement patrols and activities in a volatile environment, where many people, including women and children, were fleeing the conflict. India is currently the eleventh largest contributor of women military peacekeepers to the UN, with 124 now deployed.
