Major Abhilasha Barak of the Indian Army has been conferred the prestigious 2025 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for her exemplary leadership in promoting gender-responsive peacekeeping. She received the award from UN Secretary-General António Guterres on June 5, 2026, during her deployment with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). This recognition highlights India’s progressive role in international peacekeeping and the integration of gender perspectives in conflict zones.
UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award
The United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award was created in 2016 to honor the dedication and achievements of individual military peacekeepers in promoting the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). This resolution, adopted in October 2000, acknowledges the disproportionate impact of armed conflict on women and children and calls for their increased participation in peace building and security processes.
The award is presented annually by the UN Secretary-General to a peacekeeper who has demonstrated exceptional leadership in mainstreaming gender perspectives. Nominees are put forward by Force Commanders and Heads of Mission from various UN peace operations globally. The recognition highlights the vital contributions of female peacekeepers and the necessity of inclusive approaches to sustainable international security.
Major Barak’s Contributions in UNIFIL
Major Abhilasha Barak deployed to southern Lebanon in June 2025 as part of the Indian Battalion. During her tenure, she took on the critical responsibilities of Engagement Team Commander and Gender Focal Point, leading initiatives designed to protect vulnerable communities and promote gender equality.
The Lebanon Gender Initiative and AI-Powered Safety
A key highlight of Major Barak’s deployment was the launch of the Lebanon Gender Initiative. This program introduced a cutting-edge, artificial intelligence-driven platform designed to improve safety and support systems for local women and children.
The AI-powered platform provides a secure and confidential environment for reporting incidents of gender-based violence. Beyond reporting, it serves as a central hub where users can access support hotlines, track grievances, view self-defense training modules, and obtain educational materials. This digital intervention significantly strengthened protection frameworks for vulnerable populations within the mission area.
Record Community Engagement and Education Support
In addition to technological innovations, Major Barak prioritized direct community interaction. She led a record 539 gender-focused field activities, including patrols and outreach missions, within a six-month period.
Her efforts directly supported more than 5,000 women and girls through diverse programs focusing on health, education, and vocational training. Furthermore, she secured 75 fully funded scholarships for Lebanese women under India’s Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme. The ITEC initiative, established in 1964 under the Ministry of External Affairs, is India’s premier capacity-building platform for international developmental assistance.
Profile of Major Abhilasha Barak
Born in 1994 in Wellington, Tamil Nadu, Major Abhilasha Barak hails from Rohtak, Haryana, and comes from a distinguished military background. Her father is a retired Indian Army Colonel, and her brother also serves as an officer in the Indian Armed Forces.
Major Barak completed a Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Delhi Technological University (DTU) in 2016. While she secured a corporate position as a Business Technology Analyst with Deloitte in the United States, she chose to serve the nation. She was commissioned into the Army Air Defence Corps in September 2018 after completing her training at the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai.
She holds a historic place in Indian military aviation. On May 25, 2022, Major Barak became the first woman combat helicopter pilot in the history of the Indian Army. She achieved this milestone after successfully completing a rigorous one-year training course at the Combat Army Aviation Training School (CATS) in Nashik, Maharashtra, where she was awarded the coveted combat aviation wings.
India’s Contribution to UN Peacekeeping and UNIFIL
India has a long and proud history of supporting United Nations peacekeeping operations, emerging as one of the largest cumulative troop-contributing nations globally. Since the 1950s, India has deployed over 200,000 peacekeepers across dozens of UN missions worldwide, demonstrating its steadfast commitment to global peace and security.
India’s involvement with UNIFIL began in December 1998 when it deployed an infantry battalion group to southern Lebanon. UNIFIL itself was established by the UN Security Council on March 19, 1978, under Resolutions 425 and 426, following Israel’s military incursion into Lebanon.
The mandate was later reinforced and expanded in 2006 through Resolution 1701 to monitor the cessation of hostilities, support the Lebanese Armed Forces, and facilitate humanitarian access. India remains a major contributor to the mission, with approximately 640 personnel deployed under UNIFIL as of May 2026.
Previous Indian Recipients of the Award
Major Barak is the third Indian peacekeeper to receive the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. The table below lists the Indian recipients, the missions they served, and their key achievements:
| Recipient | Year of Award | UN Mission | Key Contributions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major Suman Gawani | 2019 | UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) | Served as a Military Observer and Gender Focal Point. Mainstreamed gender perspectives in mission planning, led joint patrols, and trained local forces on preventing conflict-related sexual violence. |
| Major Radhika Sen | 2023 | UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) | Served as Commander of the Engagement Platoon for the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion. Led mixed-gender patrols in North Kivu, created community alert networks, and engaged local women and girls. |
| Major Abhilasha Barak | 2025 | UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) | Served as Engagement Team Commander and Gender Focal Point. Launched the AI-powered Lebanon Gender Initiative for reporting gender violence, led 539 gender-focused field activities, and secured 75 educational scholarships. |
Key Takeaways
- Major Abhilasha Barak of the Indian Army was conferred the 2025 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award on June 5, 2026.
- She is the first woman combat helicopter pilot in the history of the Indian Army, having received her wings on May 25, 2022.
- Major Barak is the third Indian peacekeeper to receive the global award, following Major Suman Gawani (2019) and Major Radhika Sen (2023).
- She introduced the Lebanon Gender Initiative, which features a secure, artificial intelligence-powered safety platform for women and children in Lebanon.
- The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was established on March 19, 1978, by Security Council Resolutions 425 and 426.
- The UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award was created in 2016 to promote the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
