The United Nations posthumously awarded the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal to two Indian peacekeepers and honored Major Abhilasha Barak on May 29, 2024 [1].
These honors highlight India's ongoing contributions to global security and the specific role of women in peacekeeping operations. The ceremonies took place at the United Nations headquarters in New York during International Peacekeepers Day [1].
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres oversaw the presentation of the medals to Lance Havildar Harbhajan Singh and Naib Subedar Sujit Kumar Pradhan [1]. The Dag Hammarskjöld Medal is reserved for peacekeepers who died in the line of duty [1].
Major Abhilasha Barak received the Military Gender Advocate of the Year award [1]. While some reports identify this as the 2025 award [2], the ceremony recognized her specific contributions to gender advocacy within UN peacekeeping missions [1, 2].
India remains a significant contributor to these international efforts. The country currently has more than 4,200 military and police personnel deployed in UN peacekeeping missions, a figure that includes 155 women [2].
The recognition of Major Barak, a combat helicopter pilot, underscores the UN's push to increase the participation and influence of women in field operations [1, 2]. This effort aims to improve the effectiveness of missions by ensuring a more diverse force is present in conflict zones [2].
“The Dag Hammarskjöld Medal is reserved for peacekeepers who died in the line of duty.”
The simultaneous recognition of fallen soldiers and a female gender advocate signals a dual priority for the UN: honoring traditional sacrifice while modernizing the composition of peacekeeping forces. By highlighting Major Barak and the 155 women currently serving, the UN and India are signaling a shift toward more inclusive military diplomacy to enhance the legitimacy and reach of international missions.
