New Delhi: India’s first woman combat helicopter pilot, Major Abhilasha Barak, has been honoured with the prestigious 2025 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award, becoming the third Indian peacekeeper to receive the recognition for advancing gender equality and community engagement in UN peacekeeping missions.
The UN secretary general, António Guterres, presented the award to Major Barak during a ceremony marking the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers at the UN headquarters, on Friday. Praising her contributions, Guterres described Barak as a “trailblazing” peacekeeper and a role model for both those she serves and those she serves alongside.
Major Barak is currently deployed with the Indian Battalion serving under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), where she leads the female engagement team (FET) and serves as the gender focal point. She is also recognised as the first woman combat helicopter pilot in the Indian Army.
According to the UN chief, Barak has worked extensively with local communities in southern Lebanon, engaging thousands of women and girls through initiatives focused on education, healthcare and vocational training. Her efforts have helped strengthen trust between peacekeepers and local residents while creating opportunities for dialogue and community participation.
India’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Parvathaneni Harish, congratulated Major Barak and said her dedicated service reflects India’s longstanding commitment to UN peacekeeping operations and the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Established in 2016, the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award recognizes military peacekeepers who promote the principles of UN security council Resolution 1325, which seeks to increase women’s participation in peace and security efforts worldwide.
Major Barak joins a distinguished list of Indian recipients, following Major Suman Gawani and Major Radhika Sen, who received the honour for their contributions to UN peacekeeping missions in previous years.