MAJOR Radhika Sen of the Indian Army has been awarded the prestigious ‘United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year’ award for the year 2023, according to an official release. This accolade comes in recognition of her outstanding contributions to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in United Nations peacekeeping operations. Major Radhika Sen was deployed to MONUSCO (United Nations Organisation Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) 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 demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment.

 

She led a team comprising 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," the release stated. Under her 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 local populations but also built trust and facilitated effective information gathering.