UNESCO Chair on Gender Equality
and Women’s Empowerment
In the fall of 2016, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham was honored with the prestigious UNESCO Chair on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment for India.
The official inauguration took place on October 30, 2016, in Paris, France, during aprogram led by the institution’s Chancellor, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (AMMA), before an audience of 8,000 people. This landmark event marked a new chapter for Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. At the ceremony, Dr. Bhavani Rao was appointed as the Chairholder for the UNESCO Chair on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, recognizing and reinforcing Amrita’s commitment to advancing these crucial causes.
Inspired by our Chancellor Amma, our research, training, and educational initiatives focus on empowering women and strengthening gender equality with a community’s active and inclusive participation. “Empowering women through building strength in numbers in her community is an inclusive approach that can bring about a great change for her and in the whole of society,” says UNESCO Chairholder, Dr. Bhavani Rao R., Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham.
“At present, there is no comprehensive framework to effectively capture the extent and scope of social issues. By empowering women and those at the grassroots level who are directly affected, we can gather relevant data that will address social challenges through a holistic and sustainable approach. Vulnerability mapping is the key to understanding these complex social problems.”
– Dr. Bhavani Rao R., Chairholder
During the official inauguration ceremony of the UNESCO Chair on October 30, 2016, Ruchira Kamboj, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to UNESCO, Paris, emphasized that “There is no such Chair with this objective. It is a remarkable strategy to map out vulnerabilities through research and technology and exchange of best practices in the villages to look for the best possible solutions.”
Dr. Peter Wells, International Body’s Chief of Higher Education Section, added that “There is no greater force for development, resilience and peace in the world than girls’ education. Universities such as Amrita have a guiding and strategic role to play in this quest.”
–Dr. Peter Wells, Chief of Higher Education Section UNESCO
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s Vice-Chancellor, Dr. P. Venkat Rangan, highlighted the Chair’s mission to identify and address the vulnerabilities faced by women and girls in India over the next four years. He emphasized that the Chair will focus on six key dimensions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: safety and security, economic vitality, education, political, social and cultural environment, environmental quality, and health.
In a separate event in India, the Government’s Minister for Human Resource Development, Sri. Prakash Javadekar, hailed the establishment of the UNESCO Chair as a pioneering step in women’s empowerment. He remarked, “Creating centers of excellence in education is a noble endeavor, and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham is among the finest in the country. The UNESCO Chair for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment will have a profound role in the future, addressing key areas linked to the millennium development goals, such as maternal health, education, sanitation, and reducing infant mortality.”
UNESCO Chair on Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment – Third Consecutive Term (2024-2028
For the third consecutive time, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham has been awarded the UNESCO Chair on Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment, highlighting the university’s continued dedication to advancing gender equity globally. This prestigious recognition has been bestowed upon Dr. Bhavani R. Rao, whose leadership as the Chairholder has spearheaded transformative initiatives that tackle critical gender issues. Under her guidance, the university has made notable advances in empowering women through education, vocational training, and community outreach both in India and internationally. This ongoing acknowledgment from UNESCO underscores Amrita’s significant contributions to gender equality and women’s empowerment, cementing its role as a global leader in these fields.
UNESCO Chair on Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment – Second Term (2020-2024)
After a successful initial term, the Chair was renewed in 2020 and continues to be led by Dr. Bhavani Rao, further amplifying the university’s efforts to drive meaningful progress in these critical areas.
Main
Achievements
Publications and Reports
Our collaboration with UNESCO New Delhi and UNESCO Headquarters in Paris has resulted in the publication of two significant works:
Leading the G20’s Civil20
Gender Equality Working Group
In 2023, wespearheaded the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Working Group for Civil20, the official civil society engagement group of the G20. This global initiative brought together the voices of several UNESCO Chairs and fostered robust South-South collaboration, particularly through key events with partner Chairs across Africa.
Over a dynamic six-month period, we organized 60 in-depth policy dialogues with civil society organizations, reaching far beyond borders and engaging in 1,230 outreach activities across India, Europe, the US, Africa, and South Korea. Our efforts touched more than 604,500 participants from 73 countries, amplifying diverse perspectives and empowering change. This vast engagement culminated in the collection of over 1,000 actionable policy recommendations and 64 best practices from NGOs and institutions worldwide, setting a foundation for global gender equality and women’s empowerment policies. Our journey reflects the power of collaboration, advocacy, and global unity in driving transformative change for gender equality.
Mass Outreach
Campaigns
In 2023, we led impactful global outreach campaigns championing women’s empowerment and gender equality. Our “One Million Lights Campaign” and “Gender Equality Pledge” mobilized over 1.2 million participants worldwide, including 2,000 schools in Delhi and 4,000 schools across Uttar Pradesh.
Additionally, we launched UNESCO’s “Spotlight Red” campaign, focusing on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management across multiple states in India. These campaigns ignited awareness and action, driving critical conversations on gender equality and menstrual health at both local and global levels.
Cutting-Edge Research,
Programs, and Tools
To date, we have positively impacted over 239,000 beneficiaries across 23 states in India and 3 countries in Africa. Our work is rooted in close collaboration with local communities, addressing vulnerabilities in education, economic opportunities, health, societal norms, environmental sustainability, and safety.
Our innovative curriculum emphasizes technology-driven solutions and focuses on sectors like sustainable fashion, the blue and green economy (including seaweed cultivation, beekeeping, and agroecology), and empowering women in non-traditional trades such as plumbing and two-wheeler repair. Through these efforts, we aim to create sustainable, inclusive opportunities that break down gender barriers and uplift communities.
Engaging Men and Boys
for Gender Equality
We believe that achieving gender equality requires the active involvement of men and boys. Over the past two years, we have delivered mental health and gender-related training to more than 27,000 police personnel, including members of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Srinagar Sector, Kashmir, and the CRPF Southern Sector in Hyderabad, Telangana, along with the Telangana State Special Police (TSSP).
These efforts aim to foster a deeper understanding of gender equality within law enforcement and are set to expand to 17 CRPF training centers across 11 states in India. By empowering men and boys as allies in this journey, we are building a more inclusive, just society.
Recognitions
