United Nations Women

Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment

In a room buzzing with youthful energy, the United Nations Workshop on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, hosted by UN-Women, took centre stage. The Theatre Room, embracing participants warmly, quickly reached full capacity, sending a resounding message that gender equality and the empowerment of women are unwavering priorities for today’s youth.

Guided by Emad Karim and featuring a distinguished panel including Alexandra Hakansson Schmidt, Clarina Bianchi-Banerjea, Perada Dulyapiradis, Bindu Bhandari, and Dr. Feroza Sanjana, this diverse group embarked on a profound exploration of the multifaceted issues surrounding gender equality. Emad’s moving introduction, interwoven with his personal family history, laid the foundation for the workshop’s central theme – the achievement of equality for all genders, with a particular focus on the empowerment of women. This approach fostered an environment of inclusivity, inviting candid and open conversation among all attendees.

Each speaker’s distinct role within the organization provided delegates with invaluable insights into the breadth of UN-Women’s endeavours. A recurring theme was the intricate relationship between technology and gender equality, a relevant topic in today’s world where technology permeates education and daily life. While technological advancements can have negative impacts, UN-Women shed light on their potential as catalysts for positive social change. Additionally, the workshop spotlighted the stark disparity between women actively running businesses and women owning these enterprises, exposing a pronounced economic imbalance through the lens of South-East Asian agriculture.

As the session neared its conclusion, UN-Women introduced their “30 for 2030 program,” emphasizing the pivotal role of youth in driving positive change. This information provided delegates with a tangible understanding of how they can actively engage in the organization’s impactful work, offering guidance to young minds often grappling with the challenge of translating aspirations into actionable initiatives.

A highlight of the session emerged during the informal Q&A segment. It became evident that every individual in the audience resonated deeply with UN-Women’s work and hungered for more knowledge. The atmosphere brimmed with shared purpose and aspiration. The resounding sentiment among delegates post-workshop was a collective desire for its continuation, demonstrating that this workshop had not just struck a chord but had left a profound imprint on all delegates, igniting a spark of commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment.