Major Radhika Sen conferred 2023 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year award

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres conferred Major Sen with the prestigious Dag Hammarskjold medal and the ‘2023 United NationsUnited NationsUnited Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award’ during a ceremony at the world body’s headquarters on Thursday on the occasion of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.

Guterres 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.

“During these patrols, in an escalating conflict environment in North Kivu, her troops actively engaged with conflict-affected communities, including particularly women and girls,” Guterres said, adding, “She earned their trust. Doing so with humility, compassion and dedication.”