Why is it in the news?
- Recently an Indian peacekeeper, Major Radhika Sen, who served with the UN mission in Congo, is set to receive a prestigious military gender advocate award in recognition of her contributions.
More about the news:
- She served with the Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). Major Sen is the second Indian peacekeeper to receive this honour, the first was Major Suman Gawani.
- Major Sen served in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from March 2023 to April 2024 as the Commander of the engagement platoon for the Indian rapid deployment battalion. She led a team of 20 women soldiers and 10 male soldiers.
UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award
- About: Created by the Office of Military Affairs within the Department for Peace Operations (DPO), the Award recognizes a military peacekeeper who has the best integrated a gender perspective into peacekeeping activities.
- Selection Process: Awardees are chosen from nominees put forward by Force Commanders and Heads of Mission from all peace operations.
- Recognition: Award recognises the dedication and efforts of an individual military peacekeeper in promoting the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
| About U.N. Peacekeeping Mission:
· The UN Peacekeeping mission is a collaborative effort between the Department of Peace Operations and the Department of Operational Support. · Its goal is to help host countries transition from conflict to peace. · The UN’s peacekeeping efforts began in 1948, with the deployment of military observers to West Asia to monitor the Armistice Agreement between Israel and its Arab neighbors. · India has been among the largest troop-contributing countries to the N. peacekeeping missions. · In 2007, India became the first country to deploy an all-women contingent to a U.N. Peacekeeping mission. |
