✧ Organization of a new Conference in March 2022 ✧ In order to explore further the topic of gender equality and women’s empowerment, from a systems thinking perspective, we are organizing a new conference which will take place on March 3-5, 2022: the International Conference on Advancing Women's Empowerment through Systems Model Expansion (AWESOME). This virtual 3-day event is mainly organized by Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, but we hope to build on the collaboration with UNESCO Chairs and invite them all to participate, either as members of the International Scientific Committee of the Conference, or by encouraging their academics, researchers and students to present their work. The International AWESOME Conference aims to hold a premier interdisciplinary platform to address gender equality. The conference invites thinkers, researchers, practitioners, educators, and innovators from complex systems thinking, women and gender studies, technology innovation, and related fields to present, discuss and exchange ideas and perspectives of the potential of complexity science, system thinking, and innovation for women’s empowerment and gendered interventions. The conference seeks contributions around the most recent innovations, trends, concerns, and best practice solutions adopted to address practical challenges and improve women’s resilience.
Gender Equality, Cabinet of the Director-General, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris. ▶ Dr. Peter J. Wells, Chief, Higher Education, UNESCO, Paris. ▶ Mr. Eric Falt, Director and UNESCO Representative to Bhutan, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka ▶ Dr. Gloria Bonder, Coordinator of the Global Network of UNESCO Chairs on Gender, Director of the Gender, Society and Policies Department, FLACSO Argentina, and Coordinator of the UNESCO Regional Chair on Women, Science and Technology in Latin America The conference began with a series of opening addresses from the Guest of Honor and Distinguished Speakers, followed by addresses from the host organisations. As Master of Ceremonies, Dr. Tarek Rashed welcomed all participants and introduced a short video explaining the idea behind the Global Summit: to bring together all gender related Chairs to get to know each other and explore ways to collaborate for building a brighter future for all women and girls amid the Covid-19 pandemic. He presented the agenda for the 2-day Global Summit and introduced the Event Host, Dr. Bhavani Rao, India's UNESCO Chair in Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment since 2016.
2. Day 1 - Presentation by Honorary Guest Speakers and UNESCO Chairs 2.1. Opening Ceremony Master of ceremonies and moderator: Dr. Tarek Rashed and Mrs. Radhika Shetty Guest of Honor: Ms. Ava DuVernay, Co-Chair, Prada Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council, United States of America Distinguished Speakers: ▶ Ms. Jamila Seftaoui, Director, Division for
Dr. Bhavani Rao, UNESCO Chair hosting the event, thanked every participant for attending the meeting, and explained what an honour it was to bring together all UNESCO Chairs for the Global Summit for Gender-Related UNESCO Chairs and Networks. She introduced each of the guests and UNESCO Chairs attending the event. 5
