As part of celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Permanent Mission of India to the UN and other International Organizations in Geneva, organized an event to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) with a Discourse on “Nari Shakti: Women-led Development” on 8 March 2023 at 1630 hrs. CET at UN HQ, Palais des Nations, Geneva. Video messages from Hon’ble Minister of Women & Child Development and Minority Affairs, H.E. Ms. Smriti Irani and Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, H.E. Ms. Meenakashi Lekhi, were played. The Hon’ble Ministers highlighted the paradigm shift of focus in India from women’s development to women-led development and cited a few policy decisions of Government of India having far-reaching and positive repercussions on women in India. The Hon’ble Ministers called for emulation of women-led development approach globally. Besides, video messages from dignitaries in Geneva, who could not participate in person, from H.E. Ms. Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary General, UNCTAD, H.E. Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary General, International Telecommunications Union, (ITU) and H.E. Mr. Volker Türk, High Commissioner for Human Rights (HCHR) were played.
Welcome Remarks were delivered by Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey, Permanent Representative (PR) of India to the UN and other International Organizations, Geneva, who reiterated the shift of focus in India from women’s development to women-led development and advocated for its global implementation. H.E. Ms. Tatiana Valovaya, DG, United Nations Office at Geneva, Chief Guest at the event, drew attention, in her remarks, to the dangers of perpetuation of stereotypes and discrimination against women through Artificial Intelligence. Other eminent Keynote Speakers, who spoke on the theme of the Discourse included H.E. Ms. Lotte Knudsen, Head of Delegation, EU Delegation to the UN, Ms. Osnat Lubrani, Acting Director, UN Women and Ms. Sofia Stril-Rever, Founder, Be The Love. A comprehensive presentation on “Nari Shakti: Women-led Development” was made by Mrs. Sushma Pandey, spouse of Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey, PR of India to the UN. The event included an interactive session at the end.
The event was attended in person by over 250 members of the international, Swiss and Indian communities, which included a significant number of Ambassadors / PRs to the UN from various countries of the world, and members of IOs, NGOs and members of the Indian diaspora as well as students.The Discourse on “Nari Shakti: Women-led Development” was useful in highlighting the paradigm shift in India from women’s development to women-led development. It also brought to the fore insights of the women-led development approach as well as the policies and initiatives of gender inclusion in India at the global / multilateral stage. The event strengthened India’s continued enhancing role at the global stage towards shaping the future of humanity, with special focus on gender inclusion and the innovative initiative of women-led development by India.
