The Working Women’s Forum – Indian Cooperative Network for Women (WWF-ICNW) in Chennai, India, played host to a significant event in the global discourse on women’s status. This marked the fourth consecutive year that the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) chose Chennai as the venue for this momentous gathering.
The theme of this year’s session, “Building Leadership of Young Women in Co-ops,” underscored the imperative of empowering young women within cooperative frameworks.
Dr. Nandini Azad, President of WWF-ICNW, expressed gratitude for the opportunity bestowed upon their grassroots movement, which boasts 28 years of UN consultative status.
Addressing a diverse audience comprising representatives from 13 cooperative branches across four Southern Indian states, Dr. Azad emphasized the organization’s pivotal role in advocating for the rights and voices of over 620,000 impoverished women members.
Keynote speakers, including Mr. Andreas Kappes, Secretary General of the International Raiffeisen Union (IRU) from Germany, highlighted the systemic barriers hindering women’s leadership, such as educational, financial, and cultural constraints.
The event also featured prominent voices from global institutions, including Ms. Lana Zaman from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs and Mr. Hirofumi Kobayashi from the Institute for the Development of Agricultural Cooperation in Asia.
These speakers underscored the significance of women’s participation in economic and social spheres, advocating for inclusive policies and programs to support their advancement.
As part of the proceedings, WWF-ICNW showcased case studies of five young women entrepreneurs who defied the odds to carve out successful ventures from humble beginnings. These stories served as a testament to the transformative power of empowerment and collective action in breaking the cycle of poverty and marginalization.
The event concluded with a renewed commitment from participants to foster an environment where women can thrive as leaders, entrepreneurs, and agents of change.
As Chennai continues to serve as a beacon of empowerment on the global stage, the legacy of this gathering promises to inspire future generations in the pursuit of gender equality and social justice.