Punjab News: Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and Punjab Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr Baljit Kaur, while participating in the ‘SheLeads State Workshop’ organized by UN Women on Friday, called upon women leaders to play an active role in public and political life and lead social change.
Women leaders are a force for change in communities: Sandhwan
Addressing the function, S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan said that women leaders are a force for change in their communities and they contribute significantly to shaping policies and governance systems that reflect the aspirations and expectations of every citizen.
Increasing participation of women strengthens democracy.
He said that increasing participation of women further strengthens democracy and helps in including the voices of every section of the society in the decision making process.
Need to look at society from a new perspective: Dr. Baljeet Kaur
Delivering the keynote address, Punjab Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljeet Kaur said that the world runs according to many social norms which are not always fair for both men and women. She said that the need of the hour is that we look at the society from a new perspective and women should come forward to lead the change.
Punjab government committed to empowerment of women
Dr. Baljeet Kaur said that the Punjab Government is committed to the empowerment of women, their social and economic progress and increasing their participation in every field.
The objective of ‘Shieldz’ is to develop women’s leadership capacity.
‘SheLeads’ is a flagship program of UN Women, which aims to develop the leadership capacity of women, strengthen their networks and prepare them for effective leadership in public and political life.
47 women leaders participated in the two-day workshop
This two-day residential workshop organized in Punjab was attended by 47 women leaders from different parts of the state, including grassroots change workers, elected representatives and administrative officials. They were selected from 117 applications received.
Important step towards expansion of ‘Shieldz’ in Punjab
This edition of ‘SheLeadz’ in Punjab is an important step towards expanding the initiative to the state level. Earlier state level workshops have been organized in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
National level ‘Shieldz’ workshop started in February 2025
National level ‘Shields’ workshops were started in February 2025. 29 women leaders from 19 states participated in SHIELDZ-I, 36 women leaders from 22 states participated in SHIELDZ-II and 29 participants selected from more than 700 applications participated in SHIELDZ-III.
Increasing diversity in decision making through women political leadership
Dr. Sandeep Singh Kauda, Chevening Fellow of Oxford University and expert in the skill development sector, who was the special guest, said that women’s political leadership is not limited to mere representation, but it is a medium to include diverse experiences and inclusive thinking in the decision-making process.
Every woman has the potential to become a leader: Kanta Singh
Mrs. Kanta Singh, Deputy Representative, UN Women India Country Office, said that every woman has the potential to become a leader and there is a need to create an environment that encourages her leadership.
Women’s representation in decision-making positions is still low
According to UN Women, women are still under-represented in decision-making positions around the world. In this context, various initiatives are being taken to increase women’s political participation.
Historic step towards increasing women political participation
India’s passage of the Women’s Reservation Act, 2023 (Nari Shakti Vandan Act) is a historic step towards increasing women’s political participation, under which a provision has been made to reserve at least 33 percent seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
‘SheeLeadz’ is an effective platform for women leaders
‘SheLeadz’ program provides an effective platform to women leaders to develop their leadership capabilities through dialogue, sharing experiences and brainstorming with experts.
UN Women works for women’s rights and empowerment
UN Women is the lead United Nations agency working for women’s rights, gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. It strives to create an equal world through changes in laws, institutions, and social behavior.