G20 delegates, experts call for greater efforts to involve women in decision making process

PANAJI: Harnessing the potential of women as leaders is critical for the global community and more needs to be done to increase the presence of women in leadership roles, said G20 delegates on Monday during deliberations on women-led development.
Women-led development is one of India’s key G20 priority areas, and the G20 Secretariat organized a conference in the state capital as a precursor to the third Development Working Group (DWG) meeting which commences on Tuesday.
“In today’s exceptionally challenging environment, gender equality and empowerment are key to achieving the vision that we all collectively have put of leaving no one behind. Men have an equal role in facilitating gender inclusion,” said Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur, the joint secretary (G20), Ministry of External Affairs and Co-chair development working group.
He said that without “heightened commitment” from the international community, gender equality will remain an unrealized goal.
“The increasing global push back against women and girls’ rights, and the decline in safety and security of girls continues to remain alarming,” said Kakanur.
The event was organized by the G20 Secretariat in partnership with the Observer Research Foundation (ORF).
In order to ensure gender equality, speakers stressed on the need to redistribute unpaid care responsibilities, close the gender digital divide, increase the representation of women in STEM fields, ensure women’s economic empowerment and more representation in politics.
Speakers also pointed out that women bear the brunt of the climate crisis and thus their participation and leadership is vital in building climate resilience and resilient food systems.
Panelists said that women’s priorities must be reflected in the planning, development, and funding of national and local level climate policies. The panelists urged the G20 Development Working Group to prepare an action plan that will build generation equality, and unleash women’s full potential through a women-led development approach to address global challenges.