India Co-hosts UN event “Breaking Barriers” to promote gender equality in Defence

By R Anil Kumar

New York, USA, October 26. India took a significant step forward in promoting gender equality in the defence sector by co-hosting a high level event at the United Nations (UN) in New York.

The event titled “Breaking Barriers”, visualising equal opportunities for women in defence, was organised in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of India at the UN, New York, along with Permanent Missions of Germany and Switzerland, on October 25, at UN Headquarters, in New York.

The initiative was part of the ongoing Women, Peace and Security Week in the UN.

India’s Permanent Rep resentative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, highlighted the need for building inclusive Security Sectors with equal representation of women.

He also emphasised that patience and perseverance were the Key elements in our efforts to achieve this goal and that local social imperatives need to be factored while reforming the Security Sector institutions.

The event titled “Breaking Barriers”, visualising equal opportunities for women in defence, was organised in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of India at the UN, New York, along with Permanent Missions of Germany and Switzerland, on October 25, at UN Headquarters, in New York.

The initiative was part of the ongoing Women, Peace and Security Week in the UN.

The President of the Swiss Confederation, Viola Amherd, delivered the Keynote address, while the Minister of National Defence of Liberia and Senior Military Officials from India, Germany and Nigeria participated in the panel discussion according to India’s Permanent Mission to UN, Statement.

India’s Permanent Rep resentative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, highlighted the need for building inclusive Security Sectors with equal representation of women.

He also emphasised that patience and perseverance were the Key elements in our efforts to achieve this goal and that local social imperatives need to be factored while reforming the Security Sector institutions.

The Indian Ambassador further underlined India’s active participation in the initial survey that fed into the seminal UN Global Report.

The event marked the Release of the UN’s Seminal Global Report on equal opportunities for women in the defence sector, an initiative of UN Secretary- General Antònio Guterres.

The Panelists shared their experiences, strategies and perspectives on advancing gender equality in the defence sector, including in the areas of recruitment, promotion and retention, during the panel discussion.

Lt. General Sadhna Saxena Nair, of the Indian Army, highlighted various measures, taken by the Indian Armed Forces in this regard.

As one of the most highly rated Uniformed Personnel in India, Lt. General Sadhna Nair exemplifies the strides India has made in this area.