Major Sen is the second Indian peacekeeper to receive this prestigious UN honor.
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Congo
Major Radhika Sen, an Indian woman peacekeeper, who served with the UN mission in Congo, will be honored with a prestigious military gender advocate award, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres describing her as a “true leader and role model.”
Major Sen, who served with the United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), will receive the prestigious ‘2023 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award’ from Guterres during a ceremony at the world body’s headquarters here on May 30 marking the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.
She served in the East of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from March 2023 to April 2024 as the Commander of MONUSCO’s Engagement Platoon for the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion (INDRDB).
Major Sen worked with the UN mission in Congo as an Indian woman peacekeeper. Under her leadership, the troops spoke to conflict-struck communities, especially women and girls. Major Sen’s humility, compassion and dedication allowed the conflict-hit women and girls to trust the peacekeeping force.
Born in Himanchal Pradesh in 1993, Major Sen joined the army in 2016. She studied biotech engineering and did a Master’s from IIT Bombay. She decided to join the Army while she studying at IIT Bombay.
“This award is special to me as it gives recognition to the hard work put in by all the peacekeepers working in the challenging environment of DRC and giving their best to bring a positive change in society,” Major Radhika Sen said.
The United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year was started in the same year as Major Sen joined the Indian armed forces: 2016. This award acknowledges and appreciates the tremendous work of military peacekeepers and how they carry forward the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
