Indian Army Major Radhika Sen has been selected to receive the 2023 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for her significant contributions to gender advocacy while serving as a United Nations peacekeeper. The announcement was made by Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Guterres praised Sen, calling her “a true leader and role model” and highlighting that “her service was a true credit to the United Nations as a whole.” He is set to present her with the award on Thursday, coinciding with the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.
The award acknowledges the efforts of military peacekeepers who promote the principles outlined in the 2000 Security Council resolution. This resolution focuses on protecting women and girls from conflict-related sexual violence and emphasizes gender-related responsibilities within the UN.
Major Radhika Sen from India ?? is this year’s recipient of the Military Gender Advocate of the Year award. ?
Learn more about her exemplary work: https://t.co/00e3wRgUnY #PKDay #PeaceBegins @MONUSCO @IndiaUNNewYork pic.twitter.com/elkn3Hn44J
— UN Peacekeeping (@UNPeacekeeping) May 28, 2024
Sen’s service with the Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) was particularly noted. In North Kivu, she helped establish the Community Alert Networks, a platform that allowed community leaders, youth, and women to express their security and humanitarian concerns. Working alongside her MONUSCO colleagues, she actively addressed these issues.
Guterres commended her for earning the trust of conflict-affected communities, including women and girls, through her humility, compassion, and dedication. Her troops’ engagement in an escalating conflict environment in North Kivu significantly benefited from her leadership.
Sen stated “Gender-sensitive peacekeeping is everybody’s business – not just us, women. Peace begins with all of us in our beautiful diversity.”
“This award is special to me as it gives a recognition to the hard work put in by all the peacekeepers working in the challenging environment of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and giving their best to bring a positive change in the society,” she added.
Originally from Himachal Pradesh, a northern state in India, Sen is a biotech engineer who was pursuing a master’s degree at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay before joining the Army. She was assigned to MONUSCO in 2023 as the Engagement Platoon Commander with the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion and completed her tenure in April 2024.
Sen is the second Indian peacekeeper to receive this honor, following Major Suman Gawani, who was recognized in 2019 for her service with the UN Mission in South Sudan. Currently, out of 6,063 Indian personnel in UN peacekeeping operations, 1,954 are serving with MONUSCO, including 32 women.
The UN highlighted Sen’s role in leading mixed-gender engagement patrols and activities, establishing herself as a role model for both men and women. She fostered a safe environment for men and women to work together and ensured her team operated with sensitivity to gender and cultural norms in eastern DRC, which helped build trust and increased their chances of success.
Among her initiatives, Sen launched English language classes for children and health, gender, and vocational training for adults. Her efforts inspired women’s solidarity, providing safe spaces for meetings and open dialogue. She also encouraged women in the village of Kashlira, near Rwindi town, to organize themselves to advocate for their rights, particularly in local security and peace discussions.
