Indian Army officer Major Abhilasha Barak has been conferred the prestigious 2025 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. The honour recognizes her exceptional leadership, gender-responsive peacekeeping, and extensive community outreach while serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Major Barak, who made history in 2022 as the Indian Army’s first woman combat helicopter pilot, received the award directly from UN Secretary-General António Guterres during a ceremony at the UN Headquarters. Guterres lauded her as a role model, noting that her presence has been transformative for women and girls living under highly challenging conditions.
Serving as the Engagement Team Commander and Gender Focal Point for UNIFIL since June 2025, Major Barak has led crucial initiatives in southern Lebanon. Her frontline team engaged with over 5,000 local women and adolescent girls, launching educational, health, and vocational training programs to foster post-conflict recovery.
Furthermore, she championed innovative protection mechanisms, including an AI-driven platform called The Lebanon Gender Initiative, designed to enhance gender safety protocols within the mission. Her efforts also helped 75 Lebanese women secure fully funded international scholarships under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, cementing deep trust with the local population.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed immense national pride over her achievement, stating that the honour reflects both her exemplary service and India’s longstanding commitment to global UN peacekeeping operations. “Her achievement is an inspiration to countless young Indians, especially our daughters, who aspire to serve the nation and humanity,” Modi shared.
With this accolade, Major Barak becomes the third Indian peacekeeper to receive the award since its inception in 2016, following Major Suman Gawani and Major Radhika Sen. The annual award recognizes military personnel who best integrate a gender perspective into peace operations, aligning with UN Security Council Resolution 1325. Reflecting on her mission, Major Barak stated, “Dreams don’t have a gender.”