In a moment of pride for India and its armed forces, Major Abhilasha Barak has been conferred the prestigious United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for 2025, recognizing her outstanding contribution to gender inclusion and community engagement in UN peacekeeping operations. The honour was presented by UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Major Barak on the achievement, describing the award as a recognition of her exemplary service and India’s longstanding contribution to United Nations peacekeeping missions. He said her accomplishment would inspire countless young Indians, especially women aspiring to serve the nation and humanity.
Major Barak is currently serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) as an Engagement Team Commander and Gender Focal Point. Since her deployment in southern Lebanon in 2025, she has played a key role in promoting gender-responsive peacekeeping, conducting outreach programmes for women and adolescent girls, and advancing the UN’s Women, Peace and Security agenda. Her efforts have helped strengthen trust between local communities and peacekeeping forces while encouraging greater participation of women in peacebuilding initiatives.
The award is particularly significant because it recognizes military personnel who actively promote gender equality and inclusion in peacekeeping operations. Established by the United Nations in 2016, the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award honours peacekeepers who demonstrate exceptional leadership in implementing the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
Major Barak is also a trailblazer in Indian military history. She became the Indian Army’s first woman combat helicopter pilot, breaking barriers in a field traditionally dominated by men. A graduate of the Officers Training Academy in Chennai, she was commissioned into the Indian Army in 2018 and has since built a distinguished career marked by professionalism and leadership.
Her recognition continues India’s strong record in UN peacekeeping. She is the third Indian recipient of the Military Gender Advocate Award, following the honours received by Major Suman Gawani and Major Radhika Sen in previous years. The achievement reflects India’s enduring commitment to international peacekeeping and its growing role in promoting gender equality within global security frameworks.
Beyond the award itself, Major Abhilasha Barak’s journey represents the changing face of modern armed forces, where leadership is increasingly defined not only by operational excellence but also by inclusivity, community engagement, and humanitarian service. Her achievement stands as a powerful reminder that courage and leadership know no gender and that Indian women continue to break new ground on both national and international stages.