Why in News ? Major Radhika Sen, an Indian military peacekeeper who served with the United Nations (UN) mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, will be honoured with the 2023 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. Sen is the second Indian to win this award since its inception in 2016.

About Major Sen:

• Sen, a native of Himachal Pradesh, has studied biotechnology and joined the Indian Army in 2016. While pursuing her Masters at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, she decided to join the armed forces.
• She will receive the award at a ceremony on 30 May, which is also being observed by the UN as the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.
• She served in the North Kivu province, where the March 23 Movement (M23) and the Islamic State-linked Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have been on the offensive in the last few months.
• She served as a part of the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) between March 2023 and April 2024, as the Commander of the MONUSCO’s Engagement Platoon for the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion (INDRDB).

About the The UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award :

• It recognizes outstanding efforts by military personnel deployed in peacekeeping missions who actively promote gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Who receives the award?

• Military personnel (officers) serving in UN peacekeeping missions around the world.

What are the criteria for receiving the award?

• Protecting women and girls from violence and exploitation.
• Promoting the inclusion of women in peace processes and decision-making.
• Raising awareness about gender equality issues among peacekeeping troops and local communities.
• Developing and implementing programs that empower women economically and socially.
• The award is presented annually.