India's Major Abhilasha Barak Wins UN Gender Advocate Award

Major Abhilasha Barak of India has been named the 2025 Military Gender Advocate of the Year.

Serving with UNIFIL in Lebanon, she led the mission's highest number of gender-focused field activities, supporting more than 5,000 women and girls through education, health, and vocational programs.

Major Barak also launched an AI-powered initiative to enable confidential reporting of gender-based violence and access to support services.

As the first woman combat helicopter pilot of the Indian Army, she continues to break barriers while advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda.