India assuming the G20 Presidency from Indonesia during G20 meeting in November 2022 (Source)
On December 1st, 2022, India assumed the G20 Presidency from Indonesia, and will hold
the position until November 30th, 2023. Every year since 1999, the G20 convenes 19 of the
world's most economically and systemically prominent countries to promote multilateralism in global growth and share development plans for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For the first time, India will assemble the G20 Leaders' Summit in 2023.
As a nation strongly committed to democracy and multilateralism, India’s G20
Presidency provides the country a proper platform for showcasing their leadership in women-led social development. Prime Minister Modi of India has voiced the need to include gender inequality concerns as a priority for the G20 agenda during its presidency.
“India's G20 Presidency will work to promote this universal sense of one-ness. Hence our theme - 'One Earth, One Family, One Future'”. – PM Modi of India
During its time with the G20 platform, India aspires to emphasize the importance of
inclusive growth and development, with women empowerment and representation at the core of the country’s priorities. Specifically, three areas of policies impacting women have been outlined to require more visibility:
Improved Gender Budgeting: Gender budgeting began by India in 2005 as an economic strategy to enhance gender equality at the national level of political opportunities. For example, in 2018, unprecedented measures were taken to strengthen the gender budgeting process, when it mandated for each ministry and department to set up a gender budget cell with a nodal officer.
Mandatory Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosures: India already has in place a number of policy-mandated tools to ensure that women are represented at workplaces. However, there has historically been a lack of effective monitoring of the progress made by workplaces towards enabling women, which presents an area for improvement.
Gender Mainstreaming in India’s Trade Policy: Steps have recently been taken to create a more enabling environment for women to participate in international trade in India. For example, India’s National Trade Facilitation Action Plan (2020-23) specifically highlighted the promotion of “gender inclusiveness in trade” as an action point. Upcoming in 2023, a new foreign trade policy is expected to include a women’s empowerment and gender equality component in the vision statement.
India has already set an exemplary model for prioritizing gender equality in recent years.
With its upcoming year of G20 presidency, the world will watch as they take strides in women
empowerment and women-led social development.
Contributors: Suzanne Li
Sources: