Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will inaugurate the Conference of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP), India Region, at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on November 17, 2026.
The two-day conference will bring together women legislators from Parliament and State and Union Territory legislatures to discuss ways to strengthen women’s participation and leadership in democratic institutions.
Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural session. Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Dr G. Parameshwara, Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker G. S. Patil and CWP India Region Chairperson Daggubati Purandeswari will also address the gathering.
Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman Saleem Ahmed will deliver the welcome address, while Deputy Chairperson Dr Umashree will propose the vote of thanks.
Focus on Digital Safety and Mentorship
The conference will be held under the theme, ‘Strong Foundations, Stronger Voices: Inclusive Cyberspace and Mentorship Pathways for New Women Legislators’.
Two plenary sessions have been scheduled as part of the deliberations. The first session, titled ‘Empowering Women Digitally: Safe Cyberspace, Smart Choices’, will take place on November 17 and focus on helping women engage safely and effectively in the digital world.
The second session, ‘Capacity Building and Mentorship for Women Legislators’, scheduled for November 18, will explore ways to strengthen legislative skills and provide mentorship and institutional support, particularly to newly elected women representatives.
As part of a special initiative, UN Women India will organise a side event on menopause on November 17. The programme will focus on raising awareness and promoting informed discussions on women’s health, well-being and dignity at different stages of life.
The conference is expected to provide a platform for women legislators to share experiences, exchange best practices and explore strategies to improve their representation and leadership through digital empowerment, capacity building and mentorship.
Governor to Attend Valedictory Session
The conference will conclude on November 18 with the valedictory address by Karnataka Governor Dr Sudha Yadav.
The Chief Minister, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman and Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman will also address the concluding session. CWP India Region Chairperson Daggubati Purandeswari will present the outcome statement of the conference.
The Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker will deliver the welcome address, while the Deputy Speaker will propose the vote of thanks.
The event aims to strengthen cooperation among women legislators and reaffirm their vital role in democratic governance through greater inclusion, leadership opportunities and intergenerational mentorship.
