Bengaluru: The International Conference on Future of Women held in Bangalore underlined the need for “equal rights, equal opportunities and equal participation for women” as they observed disparity and discrimination against women deep-rooted in almost all nations.
The Conference was organized by The International Institute for Knowledge Management, Sri Lanka in association with India’s Banaras Hindu University and University of Hyderabad along with Nebraska Wesleyan University, USA, 13-14 February 2020. It was attended by 65 participants from 14 countries including India, France, the USA, Zimbabwe, Turkey, Macau, UK, Germany, Thailand, Bangladesh, Iran, Sri Lanka, Denmark, and Ireland.
“An equal world is an enabled world”, said Prof. Anita Singh, Center for Women’s Studies and Development, Banaras University who co-chaired the Conference who asserted that man-woman relation must go beyond mere “sexism”, and encourage a “mutually supportive and respectful relationship”.
Singh observed that the violence against women has reached its ugly heights in India whose daughters are still unsafe and “justice denied or delayed”. She refers to the gruesome gang rape and killing of Nirbhaya in New Delhi whose convicts are still enjoying the loopholes of the Indian judiciary.
Prof. Gerise Herndon, Chair of the International Studies Program, USA referred to “Women’s Rights as Human Rights”. She said the full potential of humanity has been hindered by systematic inequities booted by patriarchal domination, heterosexism, nationalism, xenophobia, religious intolerance, and violence. The future of women depends on a “situation where girls and women enjoy a meaningful life free from violence and discrimination”.
“Women are powerful beyond measures. We excel at multi-tasking, we are innately compassionate, we are natural bridge builders, peacemakers, and cheerleaders” said Alka Singh, Principal of Vasantha College for Women, who demanded equal opportunities for women at all levels for a sustainable society.
Isanka P. Gamage, the Managing Director of TIIKM who hosted the conference said it was the third Conference on the Future of Women which brings together women leaders, academicians and researchers to discuss and suggest policies for Gender equality and justice.
Social Media and women, women in business, women in migration, women’s rights, women at the workplace, financial freedom of women, etc were some of the topics discussed in the Conference. Ecolink Institute of Tourism and Education extended local support to the Conference.
With inputs from Thomas Scaria
