UN Award to Indian Army Officer | 30 May 2020
Why in News
Major Suman Gawani, an Indian Army officer who served as a peacekeeper with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in 2019, has won the prestigious “United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the year Award”.
- She received the award during an online ceremony being organised at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters, New York (USA) on the occasion of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.
Key Points
- United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the year Award: It recognises the dedication and effort of an individual peacekeeper in promoting the principles within the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.
- This resolution affirms the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction.
- United Nations Mission in South Sudan: It was established by the Security Council in 2011.
- UNMISS objective is to consolidate peace and security, and help establish conditions for development in the Republic of South Sudan, with a view to strengthening the capacity of the Government of South Sudan to govern effectively and democratically and establish good relations with its neighbours.
- South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9th July, 2011 as the outcome of a 2005 agreement that ended Africa's longest-running civil war.
- International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers is observed on 29th May every year to pay tribute to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in United Nations peacekeeping operations.
- 2020 Theme - Women in Peacekeeping: A key to Peace
- UN peacekeepers provide security and the political and peacebuilding support to help countries make the difficult, early transition from conflict to peace.