UN chief presents award to Indian peacekeeper Maj Radhika Sen, calls her ‘true leader and role model’

New Delhi, May 31 (FN Agency) United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres was all praise for Indian peacekeeper Major Radhika Sen, who was honoured with the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year award. He described her as “a true leader and role model”. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the honour for Major Sen is a proud moment for India, and that Indian peacekeepers continue to contribute to global peace and security through their steadfast commitment and courage. “Indian women leading on all fronts – proud moment for India! UNSG @antonioguterres honoured Indian peacekeeper, Major Radhika Sen with the ‘UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year’ Award. “Our peacekeepers continue to contribute to global peace & security through their steadfast commitment & courage,” he posted on X. UN chief Guterres in a post on X said: “Congratulations to Major Radhika Sen of India, our @UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year. Major Sen is a true leader and role model.

Her achievements #ServingForPeace with @MONUSCO underscore the essential role women play for peace & security.” On Thursday, the UN honoured Indian peacekeeper Naik Dhananjay Kumar Singh posthumously with the Dag Hammarskjold medal. The UN Secretary General also presented the 2023 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award to Major Radhika Sen, a military officer from India, during the event on May 30, observed as the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. India is the second largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping. It currently deploys more than 6,000 military and police personnel to the UN operations in Abyei, the Central African Republic, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, the Middle East, Somalia, South Sudan, and Western Sahara. Naik Dhananjay Kumar Singh served with the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO). Major Radhika Sen also served with MONUSCO.