The Ministry of Women and Child Development convened the first preparatory meeting of the BRICS Women’s Working Group in virtual mode under India’s BRICS Presidency to promote women-led development and social transformation, an official statement said on Friday.
“The discussions will contribute to key outcomes to be finalised at the BRICS Women’s Working Group Meeting (July 6–7, 2026) and the BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting (July 8–9, 2026), to be held in Kochi, Kerala,” the statement said.
Guided by the theme of India’s BRICS chairship — “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability” — the meeting featured in-depth discussions on key global issues concerning women, including governance and leadership, financial and digital inclusion, entrepreneurship and skill development, as well as women’s role in climate action, food security, and nutrition.
The meeting reaffirmed India’s commitment to promoting women-led development, recognising women as key drivers of economic growth, governance, and social transformation, the statement noted.
The preparatory meeting brought together representatives from BRICS member countries, officials from various ministries and departments, and knowledge partners such as UN Women and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
Participants from BRICS nations congratulated India on its chairship and expressed support for the identified priority areas, reflecting a shared commitment to cooperation and mutual learning, the statement added.
India holds the BRICS chair in 2026 under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability,” reflecting a people-centric and humanity-first approach articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 17th BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 2025.
BRICS was formalised during the first meeting of its Foreign Ministers on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in 2006. The inaugural BRICS Summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009.
-IANS
