Change mindset towards women: Experts

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 13

The Young Thinkers’ Conference brought together the brightest experts and young thinkers to discuss a range of issues at the Indian School of Business, Mohali, here today.

“Mindset about women are formed at family dinner tables or from textbooks. People need to change the way they portray women. There is an urgent need to change our mindset to witness the impact of growing involvement of women in foreign policy.” This was stated by IFS officer Veena Sikri, who was part of the panel during the first session of conference.

Sikri said “We need to stop violence against women, sense of entitlement nurtured among men in our society, and preference for a male child.” Other panelists of the first session were Manjeet Kripalani, executive director of Gateway House; journalist Gowhar Geelani, Meera Shankar, who was India’s Ambassador to the US; and Gaurav Gogoi, Kaliabor MP, Assam.

“There are many women leaders. What we need now is to ensure participation and involvement of women at the ground level,” remarked Shankar. She emphasised the need to educate women. “We must encourage our women to look beyond marriage as their future, achieve economic independence, break gender stereotypes and work towards active political participation,” Shankar said.

Gogoi, too, batted for change in mindsets towards women. “How can I offer more power to women – this should be the question on our minds,” he said adding that rules should enable one to progress on merit basis irrespective of the gender, caste, religion, region or race. “War affects women the most. So they should be part of conflict resolution and peace-making process” she said. During the second session, panellists deliberated upon how peacekeeping should adapt to evolving challenges. The discussion was chaired by senior journalist Jyoti Kamal. Speakers included Lt-Gen JS Lidder (retd); Seema Dhundia, DIG, CRPF; Lt-Gen Abhijit Guha (retd); Asa Torkelsson, Deputy Representative, India Multi-Country Office, UN Women.

The panel discussed a broad range of issues facing peace operations, including the changing nature of conflict, evolving mandates, good offices and peace-building challenges, managerial and administrative arrangements, planning, partnerships, human rights and protection of civilians.

Earlier, David Lelliott, British Deputy High Commissioner, Chandigarh, said: “This conference brings together great speakers and experts, discussing an incredibly wide range of subjects. There is something for everyone with an interest in foreign or security policy. We hope it will help to build understanding of a range of issues that shape the region and world in which we live. It is also an important element of our engagement with younger Indians – both those who already have expertise in the subjects we’re discussing and those who are simply curious and want to learn more.”