Major Radhika Sen, an Indian peacekeeper who was deployed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has received the prestigious 2023 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.
She received the award from UN Secretary-General António Guterres during a ceremony at the UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday, 30 May 2024 on the occasion of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. Bestowing her with the award, the UN Chief said that “Major Radhika Sen of India is a true leader and role model and her service is a true credit to the United Nations as a whole.” He thanked Major Sen and all peacekeepers for their service, leadership and commitment to the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
He noted that as commander of the Indian contingent’s engagement platoon, Major Sen led her unit on countless patrols, stating “During these patrols, in an escalating conflict environment in North Kivu, her troops actively engaged with conflict-affected communities, particularly women and girls. She earned their trust. Doing so with humility, compassion and dedication.”
Major Sen served in the DRC from March 2023 through April 2024 as the Commander of MONUSCO’s Engagement Platoon for the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion (INDRDB). During the deployment she amplified women’s voices, created safe spaces for men and women to work together, and promoted gender-sensitive peacekeeping. She is the second Indian peacekeeper to receive the prestigious award.
Born in Himachal Pradesh in 1993, Major Sen joined the Indian Army eight years ago. She graduated as a biotech engineer and was pursuing her Master’s degree from IIT Bombay when she decided to join the armed forces.
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