The 2nd edition of International Conference on Gender Equality (ICGE II) was held at the Gender Park Campus in Kozhikode, Kerala on February 11-13, 2021, which was inaugurated by the Kerala Chief Minister (CM) Pinarayi Vijayan. He also announced the functional launch of Gender Park Campus on February 14, 2021.
The conference was hosted by the Gender Park in association with United Nations (UN) Women on the theme “Gender in Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Social Business: The Mediating Role of Empowerment”.
- The event saw the participation of 90 internationally renowned speakers from over 20 countries.
- It was also attended by KK Shailaja, Minister of Health, Social Justice and Women and Child Development of the Government of Kerala.
Focus of Conference:
To emphasize the need for promoting women and transgender persons’ participation in socio-economic activities and empower them to become sustainable entrepreneurs
Key Features of Conference:
–The conference was conducted in a hybrid form i.e. in-person along with virtual event, following strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols.
–It was organized as the first carbon neutral event in Kerala highlighting the state’s continued commitment to achieving SDG-objectives by 2030.
–The themes and discussions were held on the lines of 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
— The conference will be the first step towards a gender inclusive policy framework for sustainable entrepreneurship and social business. The drafting of this policy framework will be undertaken by Gender Park in collaboration with UN Women.
CM inaugurated Gender Park Campus in Kozhikode
After the culmination of ICGE II, on February 14, 2020, the CM Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated Rs 200 cr Gender Campus in Kozhikode, Kerala which aims to become a central point for all gender-related activities. The Gender Park works under the Department of Women & Child Development of the Government of Kerala with UN women as its partners.
- The new projects at the campus include Gender Museum, Gender Library, Convention Centre, an Amphitheatre, and Women in Sustainable Entrepreneurship Fellowship (WiSE)
- The campus will also house the International Women’s Trade Centre (iWTC) along with other facilities like the International Convention Centre and an Amphitheatre.
The CM also laid the foundation stone of first-of-its-kind-in-world, International Women’s Trade and Research Centre (iWTC) that envisages a secure and sustained ecosystem for women entrepreneurs to market their products. It will housed in Gender Park Campus only.
About Gender Park:
Established in 2013, it is an initiative of the Government of Kerala to work towards gender equality and empowerment in the state.
- Headquarters– Thiruvananthapuram
- Campus– Kozhikode (newly inaugurated-mentioned above)
- Chairperson– KK Shailaja
Additional Info:
–In January 2021, the UN Women signed an agreement with the 2013-conceived Gender Park to develop it into a South Asia hub for gender-related activities.
–ICGE I was held in November, 2015 on the theme Gender, Inclusion and Governance.
Recent Related News:
i.V Muraleedharan, Union Minister of State for External Affairs and the chairman of Global Ayurveda Festival announced that the 4th Global Ayurveda Festival 2021(GAF2021), world’s largest festival of Ayurveda community will be organised in a high end virtual space from 12th to 19th March 2021 in Kerala.
ii.On January 1, 2021 The central government notified a zero to 1 km area around the boundary of Mathikettan Shola National Park in Idukki district, Kerala as an Eco-sensitive zone. The area of the Eco-sensitive Zone is 17.5 square kilometres.
About Kerala:
Tiger Reserve– Periyar Tiger Reserve, Parambikulam Tiger Reserve
Bird Sanctuary– Thattekkad bird Sanctuary, Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary
About United Nations (UN) Women:
Executive Director– Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
Headquarters– New York, United States (US)
