Bengaluru, 9 November

Bengaluru will host the first CWP India Region Conference on 17 and 18 November, Assembly Speaker GS Patil and Legislative Council Chairman Saleem Ahmed stated in a release on Monday.

Around 150 women MPs, legislators and presiding officers from across the country are expected to attend the two-day event.

The conference, with the theme 'Safe Foundations, Strong Voices: Cyber Safety and Mentorship Pathways for New Women Legislators', is organised in coordination with the Indian Parliament and the Karnataka Legislature, and will focus on cyber safety, mentorship and leadership development for newly elected women legislators.

Addressing a joint press conference, the two presiding officers said Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Chief Minister DK Shivakumar would inaugurate the event on 17 November.

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians India Region Chairperson D Purandeswari will attend the inaugural ceremony, along with other dignitaries.

The delegation will comprise women MPs, Speakers and Deputy Speakers, MLAs and Members of Legislative Councils from various states and Union Territories.

Representatives of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) may also attend.

Discussions will cover digital empowerment, cybersecurity, online harassment, the misuse of  AI and deepfake technology, and the protection of personal information and privacy.