India will host the BRICS Women Working Group (WWG) Meeting in Kochi, Kerala, on July 6 and 7 as part of its BRICS Chairship for 2026. Senior government officials from BRICS member countries will participate in the two-day meeting to discuss key issues related to women’s empowerment, women-led development and enhanced cooperation across shared priorities.
The meeting is being held under India’s BRICS Chairship theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” which reflects a people-centric and humanity-first approach to global cooperation.
During the meeting, member countries will deliberate on four priority areas identified under the BRICS Women Track. These include promoting women’s participation in governance and leadership, advancing digital and financial inclusion, strengthening women’s entrepreneurship and skill development, and enhancing the role of women in climate action, food security and nutrition.
The meeting will strengthen policy dialogue, deepen partnerships and advance the shared agenda of women-led development across BRICS member countries.
The Women Working Group meeting is expected to provide a platform for member countries to exchange views, build consensus and advance practical cooperation aimed at promoting women-led development across the BRICS grouping.
BRICS currently comprises 11 member countries – Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. Collectively, the grouping accounts for around 40 per cent of the global GDP and represents nearly 49.5 per cent of the world’s population. Given the significant share of the global population represented by BRICS, women’s political, social and economic development remains a strategic priority for the bloc.
The Kochi meeting builds on a series of preparatory consultations held through three virtual meetings on April 30, May 22 and June 29, during which member countries advanced discussions on key agenda items and worked towards developing consensus ahead of the in-person deliberations.
The outcomes of the Women Working Group meeting are expected to lay the groundwork for the BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting, scheduled to be held on July 8 and 9, where member countries are expected to reaffirm their commitment to strengthening practical cooperation and promoting women-led development across the BRICS partnership.
