United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres honored an Indian Peacekeeper June 5, 2026, for her work in the field of gender equity.
“Congratulations to our @UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year, Major Abhilasha Barak of India, who is #ServingForPeace with @UNPeacekeepingin Lebanon,” Guterres posted on X.com.
“Her work shows the critical role that @UNIFIL_ plays & how its presence is transforming the lives of women & girls, even under the most challenging circumstances. Major Barak, you are a role model to those you serve & those you serve with. Thank you for your service,” Guterrez added.
Major Barak was named the
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r Advocate of the Year “in recognition of her outstanding leadership in promoting gender-responsive peacekeeping and advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda during her deployment with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) since June 2025,” the Indian government UN site said (india.un.org).
The award was presented by Guterres at the UN during a ceremony marking the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.
Major Barak has been serving with UNIFIL since June 2025 as Engagement Team Commander and Gender Focal Point with the Indian Battalion in Sector East, southern Lebanon.
In that role, she has worked to integrate gender perspectives into military operations, patrols and civil-military activities, helping ensure that the needs and concerns of women and vulnerable groups are reflected in operational planning and community engagement, the india.un.org site noted.
She has led extensive outreach efforts reaching more than 5,000 women and girls through education, healthcare and vocational training programs aimed at supporting empowerment and post-conflict recovery. Within six months, she conducted 539 gender-focused field activities, the highest number recorded within the mission, while also leading all-women patrols during periods of heightened tensions.
Major Barak also introduced an artificial intelligence-driven platform known as the Lebanon Gender Initiative, designed to strengthen protection mechanisms for women and children. The platform enables confidential reporting of gender-based violence and provides access to helpline services, grievance tracking, self-defense resources and educational materials.
Her efforts also helped 75 Lebanese women from communities across southern Lebanon secure fully funded scholarships under India’s Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program. The scholarships provide professional training in areas such as renewable energy, agri-entrepreneurship and finance.
The United Nations said her sustained engagement with local communities has helped build trust, create safe spaces for dialogue and strengthen early warning networks, contributing to both civilian protection and mission effectiveness.