Mandi: Major Radhika Sen, an Indian peacekeeper, has been honored with the prestigious 2023 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. She achieved this remarkable feat while serving in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as part of the United Nations peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO. The award recognizes her outstanding contributions to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in conflict zones.
Key Details:
- Service in DRC: Major Radhika Sen served in the eastern region of the Republic of the Congo from March 2023 to April 2024. During this period, she held the position of Commander of the Engagement Platoon for the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion.
- Community Engagement: Major Sen actively engaged with conflict-affected communities, including women and girls, in the volatile North Kivu region. Her troops established community alert networks, providing a platform for community leaders, young people, and women to raise security and humanitarian concerns.
- Gender-Sensitive Approach: As a platoon commander, Major Sen fostered a safe space for both men and women to operate together. She facilitated English classes for children and provided health, gender, and vocational training for displaced and marginalized adults.
- Inspiring Solidarity: Major Sen’s efforts inspired women’s solidarity, encouraging open dialogue and amplifying women’s voices within the community.
- Second Indian Peacekeeper: Major Radhika Sen is the second Indian peacekeeper to receive this prestigious award, following Major Suman Gawani, who was a co-recipient in 2019.
- India’s Contribution: India currently ranks as the eleventh largest contributor of women military peacekeepers to the UN, with 124 women deployed in peacekeeping missions.
Major Radhika Sen’s achievement brings pride not only to her family but also to the entire nation. Her dedication to gender-sensitive peacekeeping serves as an inspiration to all, emphasizing that peace begins with collective efforts and diversity.
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