Major Abhilasha Barak receives UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award
On 5 June 2026 at UN Headquarters in New York, Indian Army officer Major Abhilasha Barak received the 2025 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award from Secretary-General António Guterres.
Summary
Major Abhilasha Barak of the Indian Army received the 2025 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award from UN Secretary-General António Guterres at UN Headquarters in New York on 5 June 2026, at a ceremony marking the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. Major Barak has served since June 2025 as Engagement Team Commander and Gender Focal Point with the Indian Battalion in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Major Barak is the first woman combat helicopter pilot of the Indian Army. The award, presented annually since 2016, recognises a military peacekeeper who promotes the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
Key facts
- Date and venue
- 5 June 2026, UN Headquarters, New York
- Award
- 2025 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year
- Presented by
- UN Secretary-General António Guterres
- Mission
- UNIFIL (Lebanon), since June 2025
- Role
- Engagement Team Commander and Gender Focal Point
- Distinction
- First woman combat helicopter pilot of the Indian Army
- Static
- Award given since 2016; linked to UNSCR 1325 (Women, Peace and Security)
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Major Abhilasha Barak, who received the 2025 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award on 5 June 2026, is serving with which UN mission?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — UNIFIL (Lebanon)
She serves as Engagement Team Commander and Gender Focal Point with the Indian Battalion in UNIFIL, Lebanon.
The UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award recognises promotion of the principles of which UN Security Council Resolution?
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Correct answer: D — Resolution 1325
The award, given annually since 2016, recognises promotion of UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
Consider the following statements about Major Abhilasha Barak: 1. She is the first woman combat helicopter pilot of the Indian Army. 2. She received the award at UN Headquarters in New York. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are stated by UN Peacekeeping and UN India.