Posted On:
15 NOV 2026 2:16PM by PIB Delhi
Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla will inaugurate the Conference of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) India Region at Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru, Karnataka, on Tuesday, 17 November 2026.
The inaugural session will be graced by the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri D. K. Shivakumar, who will deliver the Keynote Address. The Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha Shri Harivansh; Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, Dr. G. Parameshwara; Speaker, Karnataka Legislative Assembly, Shri G. S. Patil; and Chairperson, CWP India Region, Smt. Daggubati Purandeswari will also grace and address the gathering.
The Chairman, Karnataka Legislative Council, Shri Saleem Ahmed will deliver the Welcome Address, while the Deputy Chairman, Karnataka Legislative Council, Dr. Umashree will propose the Vote of Thanks. Women legislators from Parliament and State/UT Legislatures, along with other distinguished dignitaries, will participate in the Conference.
Theme of the two-day Conference is ‘Strong Foundations, Stronger Voices: Inclusive Cyberspace and Mentorship Pathways for New Women Legislators’. Two Plenary Sessions will be held during the Conference. The first, on ‘Empowering Women Digitally: Safe Cyberspace, Smart Choices’, will take place on 17 November 2026 and focus on enabling women to engage safely and effectively in the digital space. The second, on ‘Capacity Building and Mentorship for Women Legislators’, will be held on 18 November 2026 and explore pathways for strengthening legislative capabilities and supporting women legislators, particularly those newly entering legislative institutions. In a special initiative complementing the broader deliberations, UN Women India will organise a side event on menopause on 17 November 2026. The deliberations will provide an important platform for sharing experiences, exchanging best practices and exploring ways to strengthen the participation and leadership of women legislators through digital empowerment, capacity building and mentorship. The event will provide an important platform to foster awareness, encourage informed dialogue and bring greater attention to women's health, well-being and dignity across different stages of life.
The Conference will conclude on Wednesday, 18 November 2026, with the Valedictory Address by the Governor of Karnataka, Dr. Sudha Yadav. The Chief Minister of Karnataka; Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha; and Chairman, Karnataka Legislative Council, will also address the session. The Chairperson, CWP India Region, will present a statement on the outcome of the Conference. The Speaker, Karnataka Legislative Assembly, will deliver the Welcome Address, while the Deputy Speaker, Karnataka Legislative Assembly, will propose the Vote of Thanks.
The Conference is envisaged as a vibrant forum for dialogue, collaboration and collective reflection, reaffirming the indispensable role of women in strengthening democratic institutions. Through its deliberations on digital inclusion, legislative capacity and intergenerational mentorship, it seeks to advance a more enabling and supportive environment in which women legislators can amplify their voices, enrich parliamentary discourse and contribute meaningfully to the future of democratic governance.
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