Indian Army’s Major Suman Gawani Honoured With Top United Nations Peacekeeping Award

In a proud development for the Indian Army, Major Suman Gawani who served as a woman peacekeeper in the conflict-torn South Sudan last year has been conferred with the revered "United Nations (UN) military gender advocate of the year" award, reports Times of India.

A military observer in the UN Mission in Soth Sudan (UNMISS) from November 2018-December 2019, Major Gawani received the honour yesterday (29 May) from UN's Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during an online ceremony organised out of New York.

Responding to the development, Major Gawani underscored that being the first from the entire nation to have won the honour is an exciting development which comes with very big responsibilities. She also said, "I deep it a great honour to receive this award, which I dedicate with great pride to all Indian peacekeepers. Women and children are the most vulnerable and worst-hit during conflict situations."

Hailing from Uttarakhand State's Tehri Garhwal district, Major Gawani received the prestigious honour along with Brazilian naval officer Commander Carla Monteiro de Castro Araujo.