NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today extended his heartfelt congratulations to Major Abhilasha Barak on being conferred the prestigious UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.
Major Barak is currently deployed on a critical international mission, serving with distinction as an Engagement Team Commander and Gender Focal Point within the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Prime Minister Modi emphasized that this global recognition is not only a testament to her outstanding individual service but also spotlights India’s immense, multi-decadal contributions to United Nations peacekeeping missions worldwide.
“Her achievement is an inspiration to countless young Indians, especially our daughters, who aspire to serve the nation and humanity.”
— Prime Minister Narendra Modi
A Landmark Achievement for India’s Armed Forces
The Prime Minister took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share his pride and commend the officer’s dedication on the global stage. The award underscores the evolving and powerful role of Indian women in combat-support and international diplomatic-military roles.
Congratulations to Major Abhilasha Barak on being conferred the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. Major Barak is serving as an Engagement Team Commander and Gender Focal Point within the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). This honour is a recognition of her exemplary service and also of India’s longstanding contribution to United Nations peacekeeping efforts. Her achievement is also an inspiration to countless young Indians, especially our daughters, who aspire to serve the nation and humanity.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi)
June 7, 2026
-
Strategic Role: Serving as both an Engagement Team Commander and a specialized Gender Focal Point in the highly sensitive UNIFIL zone in Lebanon.
-
Global Validation: The UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award honors the integration of gender perspectives in peacekeeping operations, a core focus of modern global security frameworks.
-
Inspiring the Youth: The PM noted that her path breaks barriers, offering a brilliant blueprint for the next generation of female defense aspirants looking to serve both India and humanity at large.
India remains one of the largest troop-contributing nations to UN Peacekeeping operations, and accolades like Major Barak’s further solidify the country’s reputation for maintaining discipline, professionalism, and humanitarian excellence in conflict zones globally.
