By Thomas Scaria
Bengaluru, Feb 15, 2020: An international conference has underlined the need for “equal rights, equal opportunities and equal participation for women” to eradicate deep-rooted disparity and discrimination prevalent in all nations.
“An equal world is an enabled world,” asserted Anita Singh of the Center for Women’s Studies and Development under Banaras University, who co-chaired the February 13-14 meet on “The Future of Women” in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru.
She wants the man-woman relation to go beyond mere “sexism, and encourage a “mutually supportive and respectful relationship.”
As many as 65 delegates from 14 countries attended the conference organized by The International Institute for Knowledge Management (TIIKM), Sri Lanka, in association with India’s Banaras Hindu University and University of Hyderabad along with Nebraska Wesleyan University, United States.
Singh observed that violence against women has reached new heights in India where 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 in the Indian judicial system.
Gerise Herndon, chair of the International Studies Program, US, referred to “Women’s Rights as Human Rights” and 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, she explained, depends on a “situation where girls and women enjoy a meaningful life free from violence and discrimination.”
Alka Singh, principal of Vasantha College for Women demanded equal opportunities for women at all levels for a sustainable society. “Women are powerful beyond measures. We excel at multi tasking, we are innately compassionate, we are natural bridge builders, peace makers and cheer leaders” she asserted.
TIIKM managing director Isanka P Gamage, who hosted the program, told Matters India that it was the third conference on the future of women that has brought together women leaders, academicians and researchers together 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 workplace, and financial freedom of women were among the topics the conference discussed.
Ecolink Institute of Tourism and Education extended local support to the conference.
Besides Indians, the participants came from Bangladesh, Denmark. France, Germany, Iran, Ireland, Macau, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States and Zimbabwe.