Women Leaders Conclave at India International Centre Calls for 33% Quota

Grassroots leaders, policymakers, lawyers, and entrepreneurs gathered at the India International Centre in New Delhi for the two-day Women Leaders Conclave 2026 to discuss equity, legal protections, and female representation in governance.

Organised under the overarching theme of 'Claiming Equity in Viksit Bharat', the event featured ten discussion sessions addressing challenges faced by women in leadership. During the deliberations, panellists highlighted the under-representation of women in parliamentary bodies and called for the implementation of a 33% reservation for women in legislative institutions.

Addressing the gathering, Advocate Amita Joseph highlighted how foundational legal frameworks protecting women originated from individual resistance. She cited the example of Bhanwari Devi, whose pursuit of justice led to the establishment of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act. Joseph noted that major legislations protecting women owe their founding to brave acts of resistance, emphasizing the need for women to stand together to demand their rights.

Programme lead Rekha Mody highlighted the historical role of women in the nation's political journey, stating that women contributed equally during the independence movement. She remarked that following independence, politics was increasingly portrayed as a dangerous space to keep women out.

Mody emphasized that the conclave was designed to bring together women sharing common goals to embolden and encourage one another. Panellists from multiple states across the country shared their experiences over the course of the two-day event, underscoring the importance of mutual support, knowledge sharing, and collective advocacy in advancing gender equity.