New Delhi, 2 March 2023: UN Global Compact Network India (UN GCNI) – A local arm of United Nations Global Compact, New York, conducted the 6th edition of its Gender Equality Summit, 2023 today , March 2, 2023, at Hyatt Regency, New Delhi.
Coinciding with International Women’s Day, UNGCNI’s 6th Gender Equality Summit highlighted the current generation as a key driver and India Inc. as a key catalyst for gender equality. The summit was a platform to discuss issues prevalent in our times and the efforts that will be required to ensure gender equality in the years to come. It also shone a light on the tangible solutions needed to ensure economic inclusion of women in the marketplace given the cultural shift in our society through male allyship and focus on gender equality and gender neutrality across industries and sectors.
The summit witnessed over 300 leaders across the sectors sharing insights on ‘women empowerment’. Key discussions at the summit included gaining knowledge to build capacities for mainstreaming the D&I matrix using innovation , technological change and education to uncover the path that the private sector can traverse to ensure gender equality and unlock leadership. Also discussed were topics related to technological change and innovation in order to tackle the world’s greatest challenge, to learn the significance of allyship in propelling women empowerment into practice, to reconfigure the levels of collaboration from relevant stakeholders for a robust commitment to a gender-equal future to close the gender gap and the consequential inequalities. The discussions also sought to initiate strategic dialogue with the government along with other relevant stakeholders in mainstreaming the gender dimension in the fight against corruption and facilitate their journey on business integrity practices through digital innovation and empowerment.
Dr. Sangita Reddy, India Chair – G20 Empower and Past President FICCI, Jt. Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals, recognized the crucial role that technology and innovation can play in promoting gender equality. She stressed that the government is committed to promoting a gender-equal future where women and girls have equal access to opportunities and resources, and where their contributions to society are valued and celebrated. She highlighted the measures undertaken by the government to ensure equal access to education, healthcare, and financial security for women and girls in order to promote the participation of women in the tech industry.
Vaishali Nigam Sinha, Chair UN GCNI GES 2023, Chair, ReNew Foundation and Chief Sustainability Officer, ReNew Power, added “For many years, gender inequality has been allowed to flourish. Governments must invest in the education of women and girls in order to reverse this disturbing trend. Achieving universal education for girls has been shown to considerably enhance gender equality, while it is still insufficient on its own. Renewed international cooperation, partnerships and investments in the gender equality agenda, including through increased global and national funding, are essential to correct the course and place gender equality back on track.”
Mr. Arun Kumar Singh, President UN-GCNI and Chairman & CEO, ONGC added “India’s vision for a gender-equal future in technology, innovation, and inclusion is centered around empowering women and girls to harness the power of technology and innovation to achieve their full potential. In line with this, as an ethical organisation, gender inclusion is a critical issue for ONGC, and we are committed to creating a workplace that is free from discrimination and where everyone can thrive. We recognize that gender-based stereotypes and biases can have a negative impact on both men and women in the workplace, and we are committed to addressing these issues through training and education programs. We are also taking steps to ensure that women are represented at all levels of the organisation, including in leadership positions. ONGC recognizes that achieving gender inclusion requires a sustained and collective effort from all members of society, including government, civil society organizations and individuals. We are committed to working together to create a gender-inclusive workplace and a more gender-equal world.”
Ranjan Kumar Mohapatra, Chair Admin Committee UN GCNI & Director (HR), Indian Oil, added “Women have faced too many barriers to access their rights. Outdated norms are still around us deeply engrained in society and we need to change this”
Mr. Ratnesh, Executive Director, Global Compact Network India said, “Holistic development of the nation and its societies can only happen if we assign equal value to both genders. For the growth and true success of the nation, gender diversity is imperative and we should strive towards achieving it. We need to keep in mind that gender equality is not merely about creating a safe and inclusive workplace for women but also for our homes and society at large . As India moves towards becoming a nation that treats all genders equally, the responsibility of the same rests in the hands of India Inc. in achieving Goal 5 of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.”
Renowned speakers who graced the event
Archana Varma, Mission Director, National Water Mission, GoI ; Ranjan Kumar Mohapatra, Chair Admin Committee UN GCNI & Director (HR), Indian Oil ; Dr. Alka Mittal, Former CMD, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd.; Susan Ferguson, Country Rep, UN Women India; Gokul Pandian, Director, EY ; Dr. Shalini Sarin, Board Director, Advisor & Coach, Elektromobilitat India Pvt Ltd. ; Suhas Tuljapurkar , Founder- Director, Legasis Pvt. Ltd. & Managing Partner – Legasis Partners ; Alok De, CEO , Foundation for Development of Rural Value Chains ; Dr. Vineeta Dutta Roy, Head of CSR & Sustainability Department, BIMTECH; Dr. Taruna Gautam, Vice Chancellor, IILM Greater Noida ; Sanket Atal, SVP & MD Salesforce India ; Ajaita Shah, Founder & CEO, Frontier Markets Consulting Pvt. Ltd. ; Shweta Mohanty, VP & Head HR, SAP ; Naghma Mulla, CEO, EdelGive Foundation ; Shalaka Joshi, Gender Lead, South Asia, IFC ; Dr. Niru Kumar, Padmashri , Founder & CEO, Ask Insights, Board Member & National Icon, Election Commission of India ; Archana Varma, Mission Director, National Water Mission ; Chhavi Rajawat, Former Sarpanch, Elected Head, Village Council of Soda ; Dr. Shikha Nehru Sharma, Founder, Nutriwel Health India Ltd.; Ishu Shiva, Founder, Sanitree ; Padmakali Banerjee , Vice Chancellor & President, SPSU Sir Padampat Singhania University ; Dr. Harjinder Kaur Talwar, MD & CEO, Comvision India ; Swapna Narayanan , Country Head – Kaplan India ; Nidhi Dua, Former Head of India and Sri Lanka Region, Marks & Spencer ; Deepti Vij , Director, Honeywell ; Seema Gaur , Senior ED, IFFCO Tokio General insurance Co. Ltd.
