The 57th United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Population Development (CPD57) highlighted the transformative potential of women in local governance. Three inspiring Elected Women Representatives from across India shared the spotlight, narrating their journeys of localizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to improve the lives of women and girls in their communities.
Supriya Das Datta, the first woman representative from Tripura, Hemakumari from Andhra Pradesh, and Neeru Yadav, the “Hockey Sarpanch” from Rajasthan, each brought unique experiences and championed different causes within their respective communities.
The event, titled “Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Women in Local Governance in India Lead the Way,” was organized by the Permanent Mission of India (PMI) to the United Nations, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with the support of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), Government of India. The focus was to share valuable lessons and insights from India’s experience with the Panchayat Raj Institutions (Local Government Councils), highlighting strategies for promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment through poverty reduction and inclusive development.
Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, set the tone by stating, “In response to the aspirations of women in our country, today, out of over 3.1 million elected representatives, more than 1.4 million are women.”
Ms. Diene Keita, Deputy Executive Director of UNFPA, echoed the sentiment, saying, “We count on India to show the way…by shining the light on every woman, every girl, everywhere.”
Ambassador Andreas Løvold, Deputy Permanent Representative of Norway, emphasized the importance of women’s leadership in driving inclusive development, remarking, “No country can make significant progress if it leaves half of its population behind.”
The event featured speakers from various organizations, including the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, UNFPA, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), and was moderated by UNFPA India Representative, Andrea M. Wojnar. The discussions focused on sharing valuable lessons and insights from India’s experience with Panchayat Raj Institutions, highlighting strategies for promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment through poverty reduction and inclusive development.
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