ISLAMABAD: Two Pakistani women military peacekeepers have received the UN’s Gender Advocacy Award, Radio Pakistan reported on Friday.
Created in 2016 by the Office of Military Affairs within the Department for Peace Operations (DPO), the award recognizes military peacekeepers who have best integrated a gender perspective into peacekeeping activities. Each year, the awardee is selected among candidates nominated by Force Commanders and Heads of Mission from all peace operations.
“They include Major Sania Safdar, who served in UN Peacekeeping Mission Cyprus, and Major Komal Masood who served in the Central African Republic,” Radio Pakistan said about the 2024 recipients.
In this screengrab, taken from a handout video released by Pakistan’s Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) on September 20, 2024, Pakistan Army’s Major Komal Masood, who served in the Central African Republic, receives UN Gender Advocacy Award at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. (Photo courtesy: ISPR)
“[Officers] have been recognized for their outstanding performance and commitment in promoting the ideals of the UN,” PTV, Pakistan state television, said.
According to ISPR, the Pakistan army’s media wing, both officers had “demonstrated exceptional professionalism, dedication and made significant contributions to the Mission’s peace and stability efforts especially with regards to advancing women’s meaningful participation in peacekeeping operations.”
Major Radhika Sen, an Indian peacekeeper who was deployed with the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, received the 2023 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. Major Sen served in North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from March 2023 to April 2024, as the Commander of the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion’s (INDRDB) Engagement Platoon.
She helped create Community Alert Networks that allowed community members, including displaced women and girls, to voice their security and humanitarian concerns so the Mission could better address their needs. She also facilitated English classes for children as well as gender and vocational training, encouraging women to start a union to advocate for their rights in local peace and security discussions.
