Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will inaugurate the Conference of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP), India Region, at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on November 17. The two-day conference will bring together women legislators from Parliament and State and Union Territory Legislatures to discuss ways to strengthen women’s participation and leadership in democratic institutions.
The conference will be held under the theme, “Strong Foundations, Stronger Voices: Inclusive Cyberspace and Mentorship Pathways for New Women Legislators”.
Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural session. Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly G. S. Patil and Chairperson of CWP India Region Daggubati Purandeswari will also address the gathering.
Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council Saleem Ahmed will deliver the welcome address, while Deputy Chairperson Umashree will propose the vote of thanks. Several other dignitaries and women legislators from across the country are expected to participate.
Digital empowerment and mentorship in focus
Two plenary sessions will form the core of the conference deliberations. The first session, titled “Empowering Women Digitally: Safe Cyberspace, Smart Choices”, will be held on November 17 and focus on enabling women to participate safely and effectively in the digital environment.
The second plenary session, “Capacity Building and Mentorship for Women Legislators”, scheduled for November 18, will explore ways to strengthen legislative skills and provide institutional support to women representatives, particularly those entering legislative institutions for the first time.
The discussions will provide a platform for women legislators to share experiences, exchange best practices and identify measures to improve their participation and leadership through digital inclusion, capacity building and mentorship.
In a special initiative alongside the main conference, UN Women India will organise a side event on menopause on November 17. The session aims to promote awareness and informed dialogue on women’s health, well-being and dignity across different stages of life.
Conference to conclude on November 18
The conference will conclude on November 18 with the valedictory address by Karnataka Governor Sudha Yadav. The Chief Minister, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman and Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman will also address the concluding session.
Purandeswari will present a statement outlining the outcomes of the conference. Patil will deliver the welcome address, while the Deputy Speaker will propose the vote of thanks.
The conference is envisaged as a forum for dialogue, collaboration and collective reflection on the role of women in strengthening democratic institutions. Through discussions on digital inclusion, legislative capacity and intergenerational mentorship, it seeks to create a more supportive environment for women legislators to amplify their voices, enrich parliamentary discourse and contribute to democratic governance.
(PIB)
