The Working Women’s Forum – Indian Cooperative Network for Women (WWF-ICNW) hosted a landmark side event at the 62nd session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD62) from the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Held at the WWF-ICNW Headquarters in Chennai, India, the event focused on “Empowering for Equality: Women’s Crucial Role in Cooperatives as Catalysts for Transforming Social Inequity and Patriarchal Practices.”
Dr. Nandini Azad, President of WWF-ICNW, welcomed participants to this historic gathering, highlighting the significance of hosting the UNCSOD event in Chennai for the third time. The event brought together CEOs, panelists, grassroots women workers from India, and online participants representing 40 countries.
The session commenced with Dr. Azad’s tribute to the late Padma Shri Dr. Jaya Arunachalam, the legendary founder of WWF-ICNW, on her 94th birth anniversary. Dr. Azad emphasized the organization’s extensive reach across four southern states of India and its global leadership in advocating for the rights of informal sector women.
The event featured discussions on various topics, including gender inequality in agriculture, the intersectionality of challenges faced by women, and the role of women’s groups in promoting gender equality. Keynote speakers included Mr. Andreas Kappes from the International Raiffeisen Union (IRU) and Mr. Hirofumi Kobayashi from the Institute for the Development of Agricultural Cooperation in Asia (IDACA), among others.
Ms. Xiomara Cespedes, Chair of the Gender Equality Committee of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), highlighted the importance of addressing gender-based violence in financial inclusion efforts. Ms. Pieterson Boogaard from FMO, Netherlands, underscored the need for gender-sensitive solutions to reduce inequalities and promote women’s economic empowerment.
A highlight of the event was the announcement of the Jaya Arunachalam Women Micro Entrepreneur Excellence Awards, recognizing nine women from South India for their outstanding contributions to their communities. These awardees, ranging from vegetable vendors to tailors, exemplify the transformative impact of microfinance and cooperative initiatives on women’s lives.
In her closing remarks, Dr. Azad emphasized the importance of integrating financial inclusion with efforts to combat gender-based violence. She called upon cooperative leaders to adopt an integrated approach towards gender equality, involving both men and women in the process.
The event concluded with a Q&A session, providing participants with an opportunity to further engage with the speakers and delve deeper into the topics discussed.
Overall, the WWF-ICNW side event at CSocD62 served as a platform for global stakeholders to share successful models, advocate for gender equality in agriculture, and contribute to the agenda of sustainable development.