2nd edition of Dr. Hansa Mehta Memorial Dialogue

(March 15, 2022)

Welcome Address by Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti

Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations

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Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

Let me begin by welcoming everyone for the second edition of Dr. Hansa Mehta Memorial Dialogue.

Dr. Hansa Mehta had a vision of a world without gender discrimination. Her conviction to this vision made her ensure that there was full gender balance in the text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights more than 70 years ago. Dr Hansa Mehta was one of the leading lights who shaped India during and after our independence. She stands as a stellar example of what difference women in leadership can achieve when they are committed to their vision.

The Permanent Mission of India is honoured to commemorate Dr. Hansa Mehta’s contributions in the form of an annual Dialogue in her memory. When we inaugurated the Dialogue last year, our objective was to invite women leaders across the sectors to share their vision on key global issues, especially those pertaining to gender equality and empowerment of women and girls.

I am delighted that we have with us this year Her Excellency Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director General, WTO as our esteemed Keynote speaker. Like all of you, I am eager to listen to her thoughts on an inclusive and gender-sensitive recovery from the pandemic.

I am also happy that we have H.E Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the General Assembly, a gender champion, as well as the Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Her Excellency Ambassador Inga Rhonda King, another tireless advocate of gender equality, for this year’s dialogue. I am grateful to the Permanent Representatives of Senegal and Gabon for accepting to make a few remarks as well.

I, once again, thank you all for joining us.

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