Key Highlights
- Major Abhilasha Barak, commander of UNIFIL's Female Engagement Team, received the 2025 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.
- Her initiatives amplified the voices of women and adolescent girls in conflict‑affected zones and provided gender‑sensitisation training to peacekeepers.
- She is the third Indian recipient after Major Suman Gawani (2019) and Major Radhika Sen (2023).
- Barak is also India's first female combat‑helicopter pilot, symbolising gender‑inclusive military leadership.
Detailed Insights
During her deployment with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Major Abhilasha Barak led the Female Engagement Team (FET) in a series of community‑outreach programmes. By organising workshops, focus‑group discussions, and school‑based sessions, she facilitated direct interaction between local women, adolescent girls, and UN peacekeepers. These activities not only fostered trust between the host population and the multinational contingent but also ensured that women’s perspectives were embedded in the peace‑building agenda.
Beyond field engagement, Barak designed and delivered gender‑sensitisation curricula for UN troops, emphasizing the obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. Her approach highlighted the importance of protecting women from gender‑based violence, encouraging female participation in security structures, and integrating gender analysis into operational planning.
India’s contribution to UN peacekeeping remains substantial. As of February 2026, UNIFIL hosts 7,538 personnel from 48 nations, with India providing approximately 642 troops, ranking fourth after Italy, Indonesia, and Spain. The award underscores India’s emerging reputation for gender‑inclusive leadership within multinational peace operations.
Key Concepts
- Female Engagement Team (FET): A specialised unit within UN peacekeeping missions that liaises with women and girls to ensure gender‑responsive programming.
- UN Security Council Resolution 1325: A landmark resolution that calls for increased women’s participation in peace and security processes and the protection of women in conflict.
- Gender Sensitisation Training: Educational modules aimed at peacekeepers to cultivate awareness of gender issues, reduce bias, and improve interaction with local populations.