Report on the All India Conference on Empowerment of Women in Legislative Bodies

1.0 Introduction and Strategic Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The city of Tirupati is scheduled to host the All India conference for parliamentary and legislative committees focused on the ‘Empowerment of Women’ on September 14 and 15. This significant national event underscores India’s commitment to achieving key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

A preparatory meeting was conducted in Tirupati, where state officials, including Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker Chintakayala Ayyanna Patrudu and Deputy Speaker R. Raghu Ramakrishna Raju, highlighted the event’s importance for the state and the nation’s legislative framework.

2.0 Conference Objectives and Contribution to SDG 5

The primary mandate of the conference is to facilitate a national dialogue on enhancing the role and addressing the challenges of women in legislative positions. The outcomes are directly aligned with advancing SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

1. Policy Dialogue: To create a platform for women parliamentarians and legislators to discuss pertinent issues affecting their efficacy and participation. This directly supports SDG Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.
2. Formulation of Recommendations: To consolidate the discussions into actionable recommendations. These will be formally submitted to the Speakers of the respective legislative bodies and the government to inform policy and institutional reforms.
3. Strengthening Institutions: By focusing on the empowerment of women within legislative bodies, the conference contributes to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), specifically Target 16.7, which seeks to ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels.

3.0 Participant Profile and Stakeholder Engagement

The conference will convene a diverse group of public representatives, fostering a collaborative approach in line with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

• National Representation: The 31 members of the central parliamentary panel on the Empowerment of Women.
• State-Level Representation: Six panel members from each of the 31 State Legislative Assemblies.

Key stakeholders involved in the preparatory phase include:

• Chintakayala Ayyanna Patrudu, Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker
• R. Raghu Ramakrishna Raju, Deputy Speaker
• Anagani Satya Prasad, Minister for Revenue, Registration and Stamps
• S. Venkateswar, Collector
• Arani Srinivasulu, MLA (Tirupati)
• Bojjala Sudhir Reddy, MLA (Srikalahasti)
• Nelavala Vijayasri, MLA (Sullurpeta)
• Other district administrative officials

4.0 Logistical Arrangements and Itinerary

The Minister for Revenue, Anagani Satya Prasad, has affirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the successful execution of the two-day meeting. The District Collector has been tasked with overseeing all arrangements to facilitate a productive conference environment.

In addition to the formal sessions, the itinerary for the attending parliamentarians and legislators includes a tour of key regional sites such as Srikalahasti, Sri City, and Sriharikota, showcasing local industry and heritage.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article highlights issues that are directly connected to the following Sustainable Development Goals:

   • SDG 5: Gender Equality

     The core theme of the article is the “All India conference on parliamentary/legislative committees on ‘Empowerment of Women’.” This directly addresses the goal of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls by focusing on their role in political leadership.

   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

     The conference involves “parliamentary/legislative committees” and aims to send “recommendations…to the respective Speakers as well as the government.” This relates to building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels, as the event is a mechanism for improving governance and ensuring that decision-making is representative, particularly concerning women’s issues.

   • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

     The event is described as an “All India conference” that will be attended by “public representatives from across the country,” including members of the parliamentary panel and representatives from 31 State Legislative Assemblies. This collaboration between national and state-level legislative bodies exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership to enhance policy coherence for sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the article’s focus, the following specific targets can be identified:

   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.

     The article’s central topic is a conference to “discuss the issues pertaining to women legislators and parliamentarians.” This directly aligns with ensuring women’s participation and leadership in political and public life by addressing the challenges they face in these roles.

   • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.

     The conference brings together “women legislators and parliamentarians” to formulate “recommendations” for the government. This process is a clear example of creating a participatory and representative decision-making mechanism, ensuring that the voices and concerns of women in legislative bodies are heard and considered in policy-making.

   • Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development.

     The conference serves as a platform for representatives from both the national parliament and 31 State Legislative Assemblies to discuss women’s empowerment. By bringing these different levels of government together to create unified recommendations, the event aims to enhance policy coherence on gender equality across the country.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   The article implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

   • Indicator 5.5.1: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments and local governments.

     The very existence of a conference focusing on “women legislators and parliamentarians” implies that their proportion in these bodies is a key metric of concern. The presence of female representatives like MLA Nelavala Vijayasri is a direct example of this indicator. The conference aims to address issues faced by these women, which is crucial for increasing and sustaining their representation.

   • Indicator 16.7.1: Proportions of positions (by sex, age, persons with disabilities and population groups) in public institutions (national and local legislatures, public service and judiciary) compared to national distributions.

     This indicator is implicitly addressed as the conference’s subject is the empowerment of women within “parliamentary/legislative committees.” The focus on this specific group within legislative institutions points to a concern about their proportion and effectiveness in these roles, which is what this indicator measures.

   • Indicator 17.14.1: Number of countries with mechanisms in place to enhance policy coherence for sustainable development.

     The “All India conference” described in the article is itself a national-level “mechanism” designed to enhance policy coherence. It brings together state and central legislators to create unified recommendations on women’s empowerment, directly contributing to the objective measured by this indicator.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 5: Gender Equality	Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.	Indicator 5.5.1: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments and local governments.
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.	Indicator 16.7.1: Proportions of positions (by sex…) in public institutions (national and local legislatures…).
   SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals	Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development.	Indicator 17.14.1: Number of countries with mechanisms in place to enhance policy coherence for sustainable development.

Source: thehindu.com