India has commenced the BRICS Women’s Working Group (WWG) meeting in Kochi, Kerala, under its BRICS Presidency 2026. Senior government officials from BRICS member countries are participating in the two-day meeting to discuss key issues related to women’s empowerment, women-led development, and strengthening cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Welcoming the delegates, Mr. Anil Malik, Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, said, “Although geographical distances have kept us physically apart, our shared commitment to advancing women’s empowerment has brought us closer together.” He expressed confidence that the meeting would facilitate meaningful discussions, mutual learning, and constructive collaboration, further strengthening the collective commitment of BRICS nations toward empowering women.
Referring to India’s BRICS Presidency, Mr. Malik stated that the Women’s Track is guided by four priority areas reflecting the shared aspirations of BRICS nations and contemporary global challenges:
- Building a stronger BRICS through women’s governance and leadership.
- Advancing financial and digital inclusion as drivers of transformation.
- Promoting women’s entrepreneurship and skill development.
- Strengthening women’s role in climate action, food security, and nutrition.
He noted that these priorities have provided a strong framework for engagement over the past several months and will continue to guide discussions during the Kochi meeting. He also expressed confidence that the constructive spirit demonstrated by member countries during the preliminary consultations would continue over the next two days, enabling participants to exchange perspectives, deepen mutual understanding, and reach consensus on the meeting’s outcomes.
The discussions are being held under the theme of India’s BRICS Presidency:
“Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,”
which reflects a human-centric and humanity-first approach.
The Working Group meeting will be followed by a two-day Ministerial Meeting to be held in Kochi on 8–9 July 2026.
