Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world (UN SDG5). Global Forum for Sustainable Rural Development (GFSRD) organized its 5th online Global Conference on Localizing Sustainable Development Goals during 26-27 June, 2021.
The theme of the conference was UN SDG-5: Gender Equality. Total 13 speakers from different countries and 485 participants from 62 countries participated in the conference.
Different organization like Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Institute of Technology, Indonesia; Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Kenya; Humane Society International/India,; Global Peace Let’s Talk, UK; TEFAS – the SDG Hub, Sudan; GreatMinds International, USA; NETRA Foundation, India, Bolpur Manav Prem O Seva Sanstha, India; International Youth Society, Australia; Africa Green Revolution, Kenya, The BEE-Youth Organisation, South Africa; Afghanistan Youth Leaders Assembly, Afghanistan; Indigenous Women and Girls Initiatives, Kenya; The Learnholics Academy, Nigeria; Peace Organisation for Rural Development, South Sudan. ENEWSTime was media partner for the conference.
In the first day, Dr. Md. Reazul Haque, Professor and Chairman, Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh discussed on ‘Covid 19 and women in Bangladesh’. Dr. Ellina Samantroy Jena, Fellow, V.V.Giri National Labour Institute, India narrated the situation of ‘Women’s work in India and target 5.4’.
Fatmata Ballu Samura, Senior Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Sierra Leone, shared the ‘Empowerment for Women and girls’ in her country. Dr. Biswajit Mohapatra, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, North-Eastern Hill University, India, talked about scenario of ‘Gender Equality in South Asia’ and Mugisho Theophile Ndabuli, Founder and Executive Director, COFAPRI DRCongo mentioned the ‘Gender Equality in DRC Villages Through Income-generating Activities with Women Survivors of Recurrent Armed Conflicts.’
Tanuja Choudhury, Founder, Acepace Management Solutions, India shared her experiences about the women in Corporate sector in her topic on ‘Breaking the Glass Ceiling in the Corporate world’.
On June 27, Ananya Goswami, Social Policy Analyst, UNICEF, Assam, India, advocated on ‘Collective agency of women in understanding entitlements and taking action on it’. Noyonika Gogoi, and Pradeep Yarra, Campaigner – Eat Kind India Humane Society International/India shows the way for ‘Achieving Gender Equality through Farm Animal Welfare’.
Biodun Odunukwe, President, Redefined Womanhood Initiative, Nigeria tried to ‘Redefining Gender Equality for maximum achievement in the domestic sphere’ and Manusha Paudel, Lecturer, Tribhuvan University, Nepal, mentioned different aspects of ‘Violence Against Women and Girls in public and private spheres in Nepal’ while Monday Edet, Co-founder, 17 Goals Agenda Foundation, Nigeria discussed on their organization’s effort on ‘Inspiring women to champion gender equality advocacy’.
Dr. Jayanta Choudhury, Founder, GFSRD in his speech advocated for ‘Gender Budgeting for Gender Equality’. Rabia Nasir Mahmood, Project Director, Digital Pakistan & CEO, Shalimar Digital Services concluded that ‘Women are the Future Strong Leaders.’
Dr. Sridhar Seetharaman, Former Professor, National Institute of Rural Development, Govt. of India moderated the entire conference and provided his valuable note to each author. Ms. Maria Christina Endarwati, ST. MIUEM, Lecturer, National Institute of Technology Malang, Indonesia welcomed all the delegates and Amb. Ihuoma Emeruwa, Child Rights Advocate, Nigeria put vote of thanks.
