UN Women India and the Ford Foundation proudly introduced a book called "हम | When Women Lead" to honor International Women's Day 2024. The book tells the stories of 75 women leaders from different parts of India. These women have overcome challenges and made a big difference in their communities.

"हम When Women Lead" shows how strong and impactful women leaders are in India and celebrates their contributions to building the nation. Timed with India's G20 Presidency in 2023, which fervently emphasized women-led development, this initiative goes beyond merely chronicling stories.

Celebrating Women Leaders

The book thoroughly explores women's leadership as a critical driver for societal progress and change. Susan Ferguson, the Country Representative of UN Women India, stated that investment in gender equality and women empowerment is urgently needed. She stressed that the current global economic system lacks sufficient investment in women.

Ferguson highlighted an additional USD 360 billion annually required to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality and women empowerment. Shockingly, only 4 percent of official development assistance is dedicated to gender equality programs.

Furthermore, Ferguson emphasized the broader societal benefits of investing in women. Closing gender employment gaps could increase GDP per capita by 20 percent across all regions. Additionally, investments in care services, such as daycare and elderly care, alleviate the burden of unpaid care work primarily by women and create substantial job opportunities. Such investments are estimated to generate nearly 300 million jobs by 2035.

In rural areas, the UN Women's Second Chance Education program empowers girls and women to re-enter school while enhancing their technical skills for entrepreneurship, including digital training. In a conversation with shethepeople, Ferguson emphasized the role of technology in advancing gender equality, citing its potential to reach millions with minimal resources. She mentioned Tech Equity, a platform launched during the G20, enabling digital training in multiple languages for rural women to scale their businesses.

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The WomenLead India fellowship program, backed by Reliance Foundation and Vital Voices, seeks to advance women's leadership in India by empowering change-makers to tackle major global issues. The program prioritizes investing in individuals leading substantial economic, environmental, and social changes, aligning with the United Nations' sustainable development goals.

Stories of Perseverance and Empowerment

The creation of "हम | When Women Lead" itself was a testament to the ethos of women's leadership. The book was meticulously crafted by an all-women team comprising writers, photographers, visual artists, and editors. Feminist writer Urvashi Butalia provided editorial leadership, further amplifying the voice of women in this project.

Many featured women leaders shared their inspiring journeys during the book launch event. Meenu Arora Mani, the founder director of NGO Yes We Can for people with disabilities, spoke about her perseverance in claiming her right to education despite rejection. She emphasized the urgent need for investing in education and healthcare for the disabled community.

Drishana Kalita, the founder of Puppet People in Assam, highlighted the power of puppetry in raising awareness about critical issues such as early marriage, girls' education, gender equality, and gender-based violence.

Swati Singh, Founder and Director of Muheem, which works with marginalized communities in rural areas of Banaras, Uttar Pradesh, emphasized the multifaceted nature of their stories and identities. She stressed the transformative potential of investing in education and healthcare for marginalized communities.

The book launch event was complemented by a photo exhibition at UN House, New Delhi, showcasing the exemplary work of the 75 women leaders featured in the book. This exhibition served as a visual testament to the impact and influence of women's leadership across India.

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