Major Radhika Sen, an esteemed Indian military peacekeeper serving with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), has been awarded the prestigious 2023 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.
Major Sen commanded MONUSCO’s Engagement Platoon for the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion in the volatile eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from March 2023 to April 2024. Her outstanding service and leadership in promoting gender equality and the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace, and security have earned her this distinguished recognition.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres will present the award to Major Sen during a ceremony commemorating the International Day of UN Peacekeepers on May 30, 2024. Guterres lauded her efforts, stating, “Major Sen is a true leader and role model. Her service was 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. She earned their trust doing so with humility, compassion, and dedication.”
Upon receiving the news, Major Sen expressed her gratitude, emphasizing the collective efforts of all peacekeepers: “This award is special to me as it recognizes 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 society. Gender-sensitive peacekeeping is everybody’s business — not just us, women. Peace begins with all of us in our beautiful diversity!”
During her tenure, Major Sen led mixed-gender engagement patrols and facilitated the creation of Community Alert Networks in North Kivu. These networks provided a platform for community leaders, youth, and women to voice their security and humanitarian concerns. She also organized English classes for children and health, gender, and vocational training for displaced and marginalized adults. Her initiatives inspired women’s solidarity, creating safe spaces for dialogue and advocacy.
Major Sen’s efforts in fostering a safe and inclusive environment for both male and female peacekeepers under her command have made her a role model within MONUSCO. Her commitment to gender-sensitive engagement helped build trust within the community, enhancing the mission’s effectiveness.
Born in Himachal Pradesh, India, 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. Other past honorees hail from Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, Niger, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
India currently ranks as the eleventh largest contributor of women military peacekeepers to the United Nations, with 124 deployed. Major Sen’s recognition underscores the significant impact of Indian peacekeepers in advancing the UN’s mission of peace and security globally.
The Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award is rooted in the principles outlined in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions on women, peace, and security. These resolutions call for mainstreaming a gender perspective in all aspects of peacekeeping and peacebuilding, ensuring women’s participation in peace and political processes, protecting against and preventing conflict-related sexual violence, and expanding the role and contribution of women in UN operations, including uniformed women peacekeepers.
Vary nice and we feel proud.