In a profound display of commitment to women’s empowerment, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham took center stage at the two-day conference on Women and Spirituality, held in Paris on International Women’s Day. The conference held on 8th and 9th March brought together influential voices from around the globe and served as a platform to showcase Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s impactful initiatives aimed at fostering gender equality and empowerment.

Organized by Elisabeth Moreno, former French Minister for Gender Equality, Diversity, and Equal Opportunities, the conference titled “La Puissance du Lien” (“The Power of Connection”) brought together influential voices from around the world at The Grand Rex, Europe’s largest theatre with 2,000 seats.

The event commenced with a screening of the acclaimed film “Woman” by Anastasia Mikova and Yann Arthus-Bertrand, paving the way for keynote addresses and roundtable discussions featuring distinguished speakers including former French Minister of Justice Christiane Taubira, Assistant Director-General of UNESCO Gabriela Ramos, and Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Tatevik Stepanyan, among others.

Ms. Claire Moleon attended the gathering on behalf of Amrita University and its UNESCO Chair on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, currently held by Prof. Bhavani Rao, Dean of the School of Social and Behavioural Sciences. Ms. Moleon participated in a thought-provoking roundtable discussion on “Women and Spirituality”.This session brought together notable figures such as Nathalie Becquart, Secretary to the Synod of Bishops of the Catholic Church, Vatican; Chems-Eddine Hafiz, rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris; and French journalist and writer Tristane Banon.

During the discussion, Ms. Moleon shed light on the transformative philosophy and global impact of Amma, the spiritual leader and founder of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. Emphasizing Amma’s advocacy for compassion, service, and gender equality, Ms. Moleon underscored how Amma’s legacy has empowered millions worldwide, particularly through the training of women as spiritual leaders and temple priests.

Furthermore, Ms. Moleon showcased the impactful women’s empowerment and gender equality projects spearheaded by Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham under Amma’s guidance. These projects encompass diverse facets such as education, employment, livelihood, safety, security, environment, disasters, and physical and mental health. Notably, over 250,000 women and transgenders have benefited from vocational and life skills training, along with access to financial opportunities, resulting in the establishment of numerous successful businesses.

Moreover, Ms. Moleon highlighted the active involvement of men and boys in these initiatives, exemplified by the training of over 25,000 police and military personnel in gender-related topics and mental health awareness.

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment has been internationally recognized, with the university designated as India’s UNESCO Chair on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment since 2016.

The participation of Ms. Moleon at the International Women’s Day conference in Paris not only showcased the impactful initiatives led by Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham but also reaffirmed the global commitment towards achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment.