An Indian Army officer-Major Suman Gawani, who served as a women peacekeeper with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in 2019 was awarded the prestigious “United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the year Award” on 29 May 2020.
- She received the award from the UN Secretary General Mr Antonio Guterres during an online ceremony organised at the UN Headquarters, New York on the occasion of International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.
- Major Suman received this award along with a Brazilian Naval Officer Commander Carla Monteiro de Castro Araujo.
- Major Suman served as a Military observer in UNMISS from November 2018 to December 2019. While at the mission, she was the principal focal point of contact for gender issues for Military Observers in the mission. The officer encouraged participation in joint military patrols to maintain gender balance, irrespective of the hardships under extreme field conditions.
