Report of National level webinar on “Gender Equality for Development” 09.07.2020
Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.
There has been progress over the last decades: More girls are going to school, fewer girls are forced into early marriage, more women are serving in parliament and positions of leadership, and laws are being reformed to advance gender equality.
Despite these gains, many challenges remain: discriminatory laws and social norms remain pervasive, women continue to be underrepresented at all levels of political leadership, and 1 in 5 women and girls between the ages of 15 and 49 report experiencing physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner within a 12-month period.
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could reverse the limited progress that has been made on gender equality and women’s rights. The coronavirus outbreak exacerbates existing inequalities for women and girls across every sphere – from health and the economy, to security and social protection.
The pandemic has also led to a steep increase in violence against women and girls. With lockdown measures in place, many women are trapped at home with their abusers, struggling to access services that are suffering from cuts and restrictions. Emerging data shows that, since the outbreak of the pandemic, violence against women and girls – and particularly domestic violence – has intensified. Hence the women Development Cell of Kandaswami Kandr’s College organized national level Webinar on the Gender Equality and Development on 09.07.2020 at 11.00 am to create attentiveness among the students and public on the importance of gender equality for the development.
Prof. N. Manimekalai, Dean, Faculty of Arts, Director and Head, Prof of Economics, Department of Women's Studies Bharathidasan University Tiruchirapalli. Was the resource person of this online webinar which was conducted through google meet. Dr.S. Parvathi, Assistant Professor of Economics, Covener, women Development Cell was the organizer of this programme, Dr. N. Thangaraj, Principal of Kandaswami Kandar’s College presided over this webinar. Dr.R.Somasundaram, president and Secretary, Kandaswami Kandar’s College felicitated this programme. Mrs. P. Thamizhchelvi, Assistant Professor and Head, Department of History and member, Women Development Cell gave welcome address, . Dr.S. Parvathi, Assistant Professor of Economics, Covener, women Development Cell introduced the Resource person and gave a brief note on programme.
The Resource person focussed the areas where the women were not treated as equal to men and how that sectors are laging behind than other sector. She also focused how Covid- 19 pandemic aggravated the situation and how women were suffering from social and domestic violence.
This webinar was one among the enlightening programme to bring gender equality. Then the webinar ended with vote of thanks by Dr.P. Nirmala, Assistant Professor of commerce. More than 160 registration received for the webinar and 160 participants attended this webinar, and finally we received roughly 160 feed back which were highly appreciating the usefulness of webinar.
