Indian Army Major Swathi Shantha Kumar and Gender Inclusive Peacekeeping

Why the Award Matters

Indian Army Major Swathi Shantha Kumar and Gender Inclusive Peacekeeping: Indian Army Major Swathi Shantha Kumar received the UN Secretary-General’s Award 2025 in the Gender Category for her outstanding contribution to gender-inclusive peacekeeping.
The recognition places India’s peacekeeping efforts at the global forefront of inclusive leadership and community-based conflict resolution.

This award is one of the highest recognitions within United Nations peacekeeping operations, given for initiatives that demonstrate innovation and measurable impact on the ground.

United Nations Mission in South Sudan

Major Swathi served with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), one of the UN’s most complex peacekeeping missions.
UNMISS operates in a fragile post-conflict environment marked by ethnic violence, displacement, and weak governance structures.

Static GK fact: UNMISS was established in 2011 following South Sudan’s independence to support peace consolidation and civilian protection.

Equal Partners Lasting Peace Initiative

The award-winning project was titled “Equal Partners, Lasting Peace”.
It focused on integrating women peacekeepers more effectively into field operations and decision-making roles.

Major Swathi led the Indian Engagement Team, ensuring women peacekeepers were deployed in patrols, outreach programs, and leadership functions rather than restricted to support roles.

Strengthening Women’s Participation

The initiative directly supported over 5,000 women across conflict-affected communities.
Women peacekeepers enabled safer access to local populations, particularly women and children, who are often hesitant to engage with male-dominated patrols.

This approach improved reporting of local security concerns and increased participation of women in community dialogue mechanisms.

Building Grassroots Trust

One of the major achievements of the project was rebuilding grassroots-level trust between local communities and UN peacekeeping forces.
Women peacekeepers acted as cultural bridges, facilitating communication in sensitive environments.

This trust translated into better intelligence sharing, early conflict warnings, and improved civilian protection outcomes.

Gender Responsive Peacekeeping

The award was announced by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, highlighting the UN’s broader push toward gender-responsive peacekeeping.
Major Swathi’s project was selected through a UN-wide voting process involving personnel from multiple peacekeeping missions.

Static GK Tip: The UN aims to increase women’s representation in uniformed peacekeeping roles to at least 25% in coming years.

India’s Role in UN Peacekeeping

India is one of the largest troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions.
Indian contingents have consistently emphasized professionalism, community engagement, and humanitarian outreach.

Major Swathi’s recognition reinforces India’s long-standing commitment to inclusive and people-centric peacekeeping operations.

Global Significance

The success of “Equal Partners, Lasting Peace” provides a replicable model for future UN missions.
It demonstrates that gender inclusion is not symbolic but operationally essential for sustainable peace.

The initiative strengthens the argument that inclusive leadership improves mission credibility and long-term stability in conflict zones.

Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table

Indian Army Major Swathi Shantha Kumar and Gender Inclusive Peacekeeping: