Indian Women Peacekeeper Radhika Sen Receives UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award
Indian Women Peacekeeper Radhika Sen Receives UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. Read about this news in detail in this article.
Nigam Sharma29 May, 2024
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Indian Women Peacekeeper Radhika Sen Receives UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award: Major Radhika Sen, an Indian peacekeeper deployed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has been honored with the prestigious United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for 2023. This recognition highlights her exceptional service and unwavering efforts to empower local communities, especially women and girls, during her tenure from March 2023 to April 2024.
Indian Women Peacekeeper Radhika Sen Receives UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award
Major Sen served with the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO as the Commander of the Engagement Platoon for the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion in eastern DRC. In this role, she was instrumental in establishing Community Alert Networks. These networks offered a crucial platform for community leaders, young people, and women to voice their security and humanitarian concerns. Major Sen and her colleagues at MONUSCO worked tirelessly to address these issues, fostering trust and collaboration within the community. Operating in a volatile environment where many were fleeing conflict, Major Sen led mixed-gender engagement patrols and activities. Her humility, compassion, and dedication earned her the trust of the local population. As a Platoon Commander, she created a safe space for both men and women to work together, quickly becoming a role model for peacekeepers of both genders. Beyond her military duties, Major Sen initiated several community-building activities. She facilitated English classes for children and provided health, gender, and vocational training for displaced and marginalized adults. In the village of Kashlira, she encouraged women to collectively address issues, advocate for their rights, and amplify their voices, particularly in discussions related to local security and peace. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised Major Sen’s service, describing it as “a true credit to the United Nations as a whole.” He will present her with the award during a ceremony on Thursday, May 30th. Expressing her gratitude, Major Sen said, “This award is special to me as it recognizes the hard work of all peacekeepers working in the challenging environment of the DRC. Gender-sensitive peacekeeping is everyone’s responsibility – not just women’s. Peace begins with all of us in our beautiful diversity!” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, celebrated Major Sen’s achievement, stating, “Her dedication and bravery highlight the invaluable role of women peacekeepers in building a better world. We are incredibly proud of her achievements and inspired by her commitment to peace and equality.”What is UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award?
The United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award is a prestigious accolade presented annually to a military peacekeeper who has demonstrated exceptional efforts in promoting the principles of gender equality and the protection of women and girls in conflict zones. Established to honor the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which emphasizes the role of women in peace and security, this award recognizes individuals who have significantly contributed to integrating a gender perspective into peacekeeping missions. Recipients of this award are celebrated for their dedication to creating safe environments, advocating for women's rights, and ensuring that gender considerations are central to their peacekeeping efforts.Know About Indian Women Peacekeeper Radhika Sen
Major Radhika Sen, an Indian peacekeeper, has made remarkable strides in her mission to foster peace and empower communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Her exceptional service and dedication have earned her the prestigious United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for 2023. This recognition highlights her efforts to create safe spaces for women, address security and humanitarian concerns, and serve as an inspiring role model for both her peers and the local population. Here are some key points about Major Radhika Sen's contributions and achievements.- Service Recognition : Major Radhika Sen, an Indian peacekeeper, was awarded the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year for 2023.
- Deployment : She was deployed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from March 2023 to April 2024.
- Role : Served with the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO as the Commander of the Engagement Platoon for the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion.
- Community Alert Networks : Established networks to provide a platform for community leaders, young people, and women to voice their security and humanitarian concerns.
- Trust Building : Conducted mixed-gender engagement patrols, fostering trust among local populations through humility, compassion, and dedication.
- Role Model : Created a safe space for men and women to operate together, becoming a role model for peacekeepers.
- Educational Initiatives : Facilitated English classes for children in conflict-affected areas.
- Training Programs : Provided health, gender, and vocational training for displaced and marginalized adults.
- Women Empowerment : Encouraged women in Kashlira village to address issues collectively, advocate for their rights, and engage in local security and peace discussions.
- UN Secretary-General's Praise : Antonio Guterres described her service as “a true credit to the United Nations as a whole.”
- Award Ceremony : The award will be presented by Guterres on May 30th, coinciding with the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.
- Early Life : Major Radhika Sen was born in 1993 in Himachal Pradesh.
- Education : Major Radhika Sen is graduated as a biotech engineer and pursued a Master’s degree from IIT Bombay.
- Military Career : Major Radhika Sen joined the Indian Army eight years ago and has since made significant contributions to UN peacekeeping missions.
- Previous Honorees : Major Sen is the second Indian peacekeeper to receive this award, following Major Suman Gawani in 2019.
- Gender Advocacy : The award recognizes efforts in promoting the principles of the 2000 Security Council resolution on protecting women and girls from conflict-related sexual violence.
Indian Women Peacekeeper Radhika Sen Receives UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award FAQs
Q1: Who is Major Radhika Sen?
Ans. Major Radhika Sen is an Indian peacekeeper who served in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO. She was the Commander of the Engagement Platoon for the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion.
Q2: What is the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award?
Ans. The UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award is an annual recognition given to a military peacekeeper who has demonstrated exceptional efforts in promoting gender equality and the protection of women and girls in conflict zones.
Q3: Why was Major Radhika Sen awarded the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award?
Ans. Major Sen was awarded for her outstanding service in empowering local communities, particularly women and girls, through initiatives like Community Alert Networks and mixed-gender engagement patrols during her tenure from March 2023 to April 2024.
Q4: What initiatives did Major Sen implement during her deployment?
Ans. Major Sen established Community Alert Networks to address security and humanitarian concerns, led mixed-gender engagement patrols, facilitated English classes for children, and provided health, gender, and vocational training for displaced and marginalized adults.
Q5: What impact did Major Sen have on the local communities in the DRC?
Ans. Major Sen earned the trust of local populations by addressing their security and humanitarian concerns, creating safe spaces for men and women to work together, and encouraging women to advocate for their rights and participate in local security and peace discussions.
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