Source- This post on U.N. award on gender advocacy has been created based on the article “Indian peacekeeper gets U.N. award on gender advocacy” published in “The Hindu” on 31 May 2024.
Why in News?
Recently, Major Radhika Sen was awarded the U.N. Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for 2023.
1. Major Radhika Sen who is an Indian peacekeeper in Congo, received the U.N. Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for 2023. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres presented the award.
2. Major Sen commanded an engagement platoon in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo from March 2023 to April 2024 which is part of an Indian rapid deployment battalion. Her platoon included 20 women and 10 men.
3. This award was bestowed upon her for her exceptional service and involvement in gender-focused initiatives within the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO.
4. Major Sen is the second Indian peacekeeper to receive this prestigious honor, following Major Suman Gawani, who was a co-recipient in 2019.
About MONUSCO
1) The UN Security Council established MONUSCO.
2) It took over in 2010, from an earlier UN peacekeeping operation that is the United Nations Organization Mission in Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC)
3) It’s one of the largest UN peacekeeping efforts employing approximately 16,300 individuals.
4) The primary role of MONUSCO is to protect civilians from violence, particularly in conflict-prone areas like North Kivu.
5) MONUSCO is notable for its use of UAVs for monitoring purposes which is a first in UN peacekeeping history.
6) It features an Intervention Brigade which was authorized in 2013 to conduct targeted offensive operations against armed groups.
About United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award
2. It was created in 2016 by the Office of Military Affairs within the Department for Peace Operations (DPO).
3. The Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award recognizes a military peacekeeper who has best integrated a gender perspective into peacekeeping activities.
4. Each year, the awardee is selected among candidates nominated by Force Commanders and Heads of Mission from all peace operations.
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