Major Radhika Sen receives UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award
Major Radhika Sen from the Indian Army received the United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award 2023 on Thursday due to her contributions to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in United Nations peacekeeping operations.
Major Sen was deployed to the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) from March 2023 to April 2024, where she took charge as the Engagement Team Commander of the Indian Rapidly Deployed Battalion.
While serving as the Engagement Platoon Commander of the Indian Rapidly Deployed Battalion in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), she led a team of 20 women soldiers and 10 male soldiers. Her work primarily focused on interacting with civilians, addressing security concerns of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and advocating for the voices of women, girls, and children in conflict zones.
UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres said in a statement that Major Sen is a “true leader and role model. Her service was a true credit to the United Nations as a whole.”
Under Major Sen’s leadership, the engagement teams conducted educational sessions on essential topics, including women’s health, education, childcare, gender equality, and employment. These initiatives, coupled with skill development programs, have not only enhanced self-reliance among the local population, but also built trust and facilitated effective information gathering.
When asked about her feelings on receiving the award, Major Sen expressed gratitude to her dedicated engagement platoon, particularly Major Saumya Singh, her second in command, for their unwavering support and the guidance from her contingent members. She also acknowledged the Indian Army for the opportunity and trust bestowed upon her to serve in the DRC. She thanked her parents for their support and encouragement, which pushed her to give her best always in difficult conditions.
Her work has had a profound impact on the local communities in the DRC and has set a high standard for future peacekeeping missions worldwide.
Major Radhika Sen hails from Sunder Nagar, in Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh. Both her parents were state government employees as teachers and are now retired. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering in Biotechnology and was pursuing her M Tech from IIT Bombay before joining the Indian Army on September 10, 2016. During her Army career, she has served in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Sikkim.