New Delhi: After winning the prestigious United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year award, Major Suman Gawani took to the internet to express thanks for the honour and love she received across the nation.
"I feel honoured and privileged that I have been given this opportunity and chosen for this prestigious award which comes with great responsibility towards the cause. I am thankful to my country for sending me to South Sudan for serving for such noble cause", said Major Suman Gawani, who received the UN award for anti-sexual violence campaign during an online ceremony organized at the UN Headquarters, New York on the occasion of International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.
Major Suman who hails from Uttarakhand 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.
"When I was in South Sudan serving as a military observer, I came across many women and children who were not aware of their rights. Moreover, there were a lot of atrocities related to conflict-related sexual violence. Our force especially wanted to launch an action plan on conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and wanted the south Sudanese government to cooperate. I chose to train the South Sudanese government forces and in fact helped them launch their action plan on CRSV," Major Suman Gawani told ETV Bharat.
"I drew inspiration from my father who motivated me to join the Indian Army. Since childhood, I have seen him wearing a uniform with immense pride. Although my father is in the fire brigade department his perseverance encouraged me to join the Indian Army. My family has always been a strong pillar of support. They never stopped me from doing anything. I am the first one from my family to have joined the Indian army ", Major Suman added.
Also read: Uttarakhand’s Major Suman Gawani wins prestigious UN award
