Serving as the Commander of the Female Engagement Team (FET) with the Indian Battalion in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Major Abhilasha Barak has been recognized for her outstanding outreach to women and adolescent girls, as well as conducting vital gender sensitization training for fellow peacekeepers.
Notably the first woman combat helicopter pilot of the Indian Army, she continues India's strong legacy in UN missions. Major Barak is the third Indian peacekeeper to receive this global honor, following Major Suman Gawani (2019) and Major Radhika Sen (2023). She will formally receive the award at the UN Headquarters on May 29, 2026, marking the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.
