First Indian peacekeeper to honoured with UN Military Gender Advocate award

Indian Army officer and woman peacekeeper Major Suman Gawani, who has served with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), has been selected for the prestigious United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award (2019).

She is the first Indian peacekeeper to be given the UN Military Gender Advocate award, for her outstanding contribution to peacekeeping efforts in the UNMISS.

Major Gawani, along with Brazilian Naval Officer Commander Carla Monteiro de Castro Araujo will receive the award by United Nations Secretary-General Guterres on May 29, the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.

The UN Military Gender Advocate award was created in 2016 to honour the dedication and effort of individual military peacekeepers in promoting the UN principles on Women, Peace and Security in peace operations as nominated by Heads and Force Commanders of peace operations.