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Major Sen emphasises that true peace can only be achieved through inclusive and diverse efforts
In a remarkable celebration of leadership, dedication, and gender-sensitive peacekeeping, Major Radhika Sen, an Indian woman peacekeeper, was honoured with the prestigious ‘2023 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award’. The award was conferred by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during a ceremony held at the UN headquarters on the occasion of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers in Thursday (May 30, 2024).
Major Sen’s inspiring speech, which has since gone viral, emphasized the crucial role of diversity in peacekeeping and has been hailed by audiences worldwide.
Major Sen served with the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) from March 2023 to April 2024 as the Commander of the Engagement Platoon for the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion (INDRDB). Her tenure in the volatile region of North Kivu was marked by her compassionate and dedicated engagement with conflict-affected communities, particularly women and girls.
Guterres lauded her as a “true leader and role model,” underscoring her significant contributions to the Women, Peace, and Security agenda.
“Major Sen is a true leader and role model. Her service is a true credit to the United Nations as a whole. Please join me in congratulating Major Radhika Sen of India. I could not be prouder to confer her with the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award,” said Guterres during the ceremony. He highlighted her efforts in providing a safe platform for women to voice their concerns and her initiatives in conducting vocational training for women and young people, which were instrumental in building trust within the communities she served.
In her speech, Major Sen passionately conveyed the importance of gender-sensitive peacekeeping, stressing that it is a collective responsibility. “Gender-sensitive peacekeeping is everybody’s business – not just us, women. Peace begins with all of us in our beautiful diversity,” she declared. Her words resonated deeply, emphasizing that true peace can only be achieved through inclusive and diverse efforts.
“We had the opportunity to engage with the communities on topics ranging from women’s health and education, childcare, gender equality, and combating sexual violence in conflicts. A gender perspective in UN peacekeeping is essential for an effective, inclusive, and sustainable peace process,” she added, reinforcing the need for a gender-sensitive approach in all peacekeeping efforts.
Born in Himachal Pradesh in 1993, Major Sen joined the Indian Army eight years ago after completing her biotech engineering degree and while pursuing her Master’s degree from IIT Bombay. Her journey from a biotech engineer to a celebrated peacekeeper exemplifies her dedication and commitment to serving humanity.
During her tenure with MONUSCO, Major Sen led her unit on numerous patrols in the conflict-ridden North Kivu, engaging directly with affected communities and earning their trust through her humility and compassion. As the gender focal point, she undertook various civil-military tasks, including efforts to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse, and played a pivotal role in vocational training programs aimed at fostering self-reliance among women and young people.
The international community has showered praise on Major Sen for her exemplary service. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj both congratulated her, highlighting her outstanding service and the invaluable role of women peacekeepers in building a better world.
In a tweet, Guterres expressed his admiration for Major Sen: "Congratulations to Major Radhika Sen of India, our @UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year. Major Sen is a true leader and role model. Her achievements #ServingForPeace with @MONUSCO underscore the essential role women play for peace & security."
Major Sen’s recognition as the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year marks her as the second Indian peacekeeper to receive this honor, following Major Suman Gawani, who was awarded in 2019 for her service with the UN Mission in South Sudan. The award, established in 2016, acknowledges the dedication and efforts of military peacekeepers in promoting the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.
As India continues to be a significant contributor to UN peacekeeping missions, Major Sen’s achievements highlight the critical role that gender-sensitive approaches play in fostering peace and security. Her speech serves as a powerful reminder that peacekeeping is a shared responsibility, rooted in the collective efforts of diverse individuals working towards a common goal.
Major Sen’s legacy will undoubtedly inspire future generations of peacekeepers to continue advocating for gender equality and inclusive peace processes, ensuring that the voices of women and marginalized communities are heard and respected in conflict zones worldwide.
Major Sen’s inspiring speech, which has since gone viral, emphasized the crucial role of diversity in peacekeeping and has been hailed by audiences worldwide.
Major Sen served with the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) from March 2023 to April 2024 as the Commander of the Engagement Platoon for the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion (INDRDB). Her tenure in the volatile region of North Kivu was marked by her compassionate and dedicated engagement with conflict-affected communities, particularly women and girls.
Guterres lauded her as a “true leader and role model,” underscoring her significant contributions to the Women, Peace, and Security agenda.
“Major Sen is a true leader and role model. Her service is a true credit to the United Nations as a whole. Please join me in congratulating Major Radhika Sen of India. I could not be prouder to confer her with the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award,” said Guterres during the ceremony. He highlighted her efforts in providing a safe platform for women to voice their concerns and her initiatives in conducting vocational training for women and young people, which were instrumental in building trust within the communities she served.
In her speech, Major Sen passionately conveyed the importance of gender-sensitive peacekeeping, stressing that it is a collective responsibility. “Gender-sensitive peacekeeping is everybody’s business – not just us, women. Peace begins with all of us in our beautiful diversity,” she declared. Her words resonated deeply, emphasizing that true peace can only be achieved through inclusive and diverse efforts.
“We had the opportunity to engage with the communities on topics ranging from women’s health and education, childcare, gender equality, and combating sexual violence in conflicts. A gender perspective in UN peacekeeping is essential for an effective, inclusive, and sustainable peace process,” she added, reinforcing the need for a gender-sensitive approach in all peacekeeping efforts.
Born in Himachal Pradesh in 1993, Major Sen joined the Indian Army eight years ago after completing her biotech engineering degree and while pursuing her Master’s degree from IIT Bombay. Her journey from a biotech engineer to a celebrated peacekeeper exemplifies her dedication and commitment to serving humanity.
During her tenure with MONUSCO, Major Sen led her unit on numerous patrols in the conflict-ridden North Kivu, engaging directly with affected communities and earning their trust through her humility and compassion. As the gender focal point, she undertook various civil-military tasks, including efforts to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse, and played a pivotal role in vocational training programs aimed at fostering self-reliance among women and young people.
The international community has showered praise on Major Sen for her exemplary service. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj both congratulated her, highlighting her outstanding service and the invaluable role of women peacekeepers in building a better world.
In a tweet, Guterres expressed his admiration for Major Sen: "Congratulations to Major Radhika Sen of India, our @UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year. Major Sen is a true leader and role model. Her achievements #ServingForPeace with @MONUSCO underscore the essential role women play for peace & security."
Major Sen’s recognition as the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year marks her as the second Indian peacekeeper to receive this honor, following Major Suman Gawani, who was awarded in 2019 for her service with the UN Mission in South Sudan. The award, established in 2016, acknowledges the dedication and efforts of military peacekeepers in promoting the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.
As India continues to be a significant contributor to UN peacekeeping missions, Major Sen’s achievements highlight the critical role that gender-sensitive approaches play in fostering peace and security. Her speech serves as a powerful reminder that peacekeeping is a shared responsibility, rooted in the collective efforts of diverse individuals working towards a common goal.
Major Sen’s legacy will undoubtedly inspire future generations of peacekeepers to continue advocating for gender equality and inclusive peace processes, ensuring that the voices of women and marginalized communities are heard and respected in conflict zones worldwide.
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