The two-day South Asia Women’s Conference (SAWC) 2022 at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology concluded here on Saturday.

The two-day event, in association with the United States Consulate General Hyderabad, held in association with multiple UN bodies, deliberated on sustainable networking for the development of women and girls in South Asia.

The SAWC theme this year was “Towards an Equitable, Inclusive and Sustainable World.”

More than Seventy delegates participated in the meet.

Welcoming the delegates Vice-Chancellor of KIIT University and chairman of the inaugural session, Sasmita Samanta said: “Women are the epitome of knowledge and we have to connect to the globe to assert the power that we possess with humility.’’

She also observed that this conference would try to zero in on the reasons behind such neglect so that the well being of women folks would be taken care of, in the future.

In her keynote address leading actress-turned director and activist Nandita Das, “we have to say yes to all that we can achieve and no to what means NO!”

Speaking on the occasion, Frankie Sturm, acting public affairs officer, US consulate general, Hyderabad said: “The untapped potential of women is a lost opportunity for economic growth, equitable development and conflict resolution. We have to regain the opportunity and achieve gender equality.”

“Empowerment is both an agent and a product of social change. It is about choice and ability to influence one’s desired action and be part of the decision-making process,” said Arun Sahu, high commissioner of India to Trinidad and Tobago.

Acharapan Yuvaprapas, consul general Thai consulate, Calcutta, in her speech referred to “gender rights equality is a human right issue.’’

“Through inclusivity and sustainability, we can find solutions to all global problems,’’ said Tahina Rasamoelina Chargee D’Affaires, Embassy of the Republic of Madagascar.

Abha Mishra, UN development programme, Odisha head said: “All the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be achieved if we have no mechanism to address the gender gap and difference.”

Head of Odisha World Food Programme, Himanshu Bal, stressed on the need to address the issue of hunger.

The regional conference with several sessions of workshops, group discussions and breakout sessions was to ensure a designated path in order to achieve the SDG Agenda 2030 of the United Nations.

Rahul Bose, eminent actor and social activist and Lakshmi Puri, former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, sent their good wishes message.