First G20 Ministerial Conference on Women’s Empowerment

The Union Minister of Women & Child Development, Smriti Irani addressed the First ever G20 Ministerial Conference on Women’s Empowerment on August 26, 2021.

Key Points

• Conference was held at Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy in a hybrid format.
• During the conference, union minister highlighted India’s commitment of addressing gender and women centric issues by means of mutual cooperation.
• She also noted several initiatives undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government in India towards bringing gender equality, strengthening women’s safety & security and ensuring better healthcare.
• He also conveyed India’s solidarity with the G20 grouping in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment within the partner countries.
• She also joined the Gender Equality Ministers of the G20 for the promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women through cooperation and coordination at all the relevant fora.

About G20

G20 is an informal group comprising of 19 countries and the European Union besides the representatives from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Membership to G20 is a mix of world’s largest advanced and emerging economies. It represents about two-thirds of world’s population, 85% of world’s gross domestic product, 80% of world’s investment and 75% of world’s trade.

Background

G20 was a ministerial level forum that emerged after G7 invited developed as well as developing countries during the 1997-1999 ASIAN Financial Crisis. Amid the Crisis, world realised the need for a new consensus building at highest political level. Consequently, it was decided that the G20 leaders would meet annually.

India’s Priorities at G20

India has always dealt with the topics like- Checking tax evasion to fight corruption, blocking terror funds, cutting cost of remittances, market access for key drugs, reforms in World Trade Organisation in order to improve its functioning and implementation of the Paris Agreement- at the g20 summits.

Month: Current Affairs - August, 2021