.: The Strength of a Woman

Saturday 8 February 2014

The Strength of a Woman

Posted: 08 Feb 2014 02:30 AM PST

Women who have contributed to societal welfare, change and awareness will be presented awards at the Sixth International Women's Conference

The Art of Living presents the Sixth International Women's conference from February 7 to 9 at the Art of Living International Centre.

The conference, chaired by Bhanumathi Narasimhan, brings together women leaders and personalities from across 46 countries. The theme of this year's conference is "Harmony - Evolution towards Perfection".

The conference is also hosting 78 Delegates from Iraq as well as leaders from across the world including Pakistan, Italy, Brazil, Japan, and delegates from Israel and the Arab world along with 300 women from rural India.

Some of the speakers at this year's conference include Kiran Bedi, former IPS and social activist; Vimla Mehra, Director General, Tihar Jail, India; Madhu Kishwar, academic and writer; Hijran Huseynova, Chairwoman of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of Azerbaijan Republic, Azerbaijan; Shakeela, Foreign Minister, Maldives; Anne-Marie Lizin, Honorary Speaker of Belgian Senate, Belgium; Tanika Gray Valburn, News Editor, CNN, Atlanta, USA; and designers David Abraham, Ritu Kumar and Rina Dhaka.

The conference is a forum for discussion on issues such as gender inequality, domestic violence, women's security and female infanticide and will include panel discussions and talks on overcoming societal challenges in a sustainable manner, moving from conflict to peace, corruption to good governance, from crime towards non-violence and creating harmony between the inner and outer worlds.

The conference will also include an online session with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder of the Art of Living. "The objective is to create a platform for women to come together and share their common interests, achievements and success stories, to find solutions through dialogue and take home these solutions of great thinkers and speakers. It is also a bridge between the rural and the educated woman; how we can learn from each other and how we can appreciate life," says Bhanumathi Narasimhan.

"It is a beautiful thing when we see women from so many countries. It leaves one with a sense of connectedness and contentment, that what our ancient seers spoke of — One World Family — is seen right here and now."

Through the conference, women who have contributed to societal welfare, change and awareness will be presented the Vishalakshi Awards, instituted in the memory of Ravi Shankar's mother.

Source: The Hindu