Commonwealth women parliamentarians to discuss equality & poverty

New Delhi, Sep 23 (UNI) As part of the 53rd Commonwealth Parliamentarians Conference, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee will inaugurate here tomorrow the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference(CWP).

The Indian Parliament is hosting the two events as also the 27th Small Countries Conference.

Spread over two sessions, the Women Parliamentarians Conference will focus on two key issues---'Strategies to Overcome Barriers Preventing Women's Equal Participation in Decision-Making and 'Role of Women Parliamentarians in dealing with HIV/AIDS and Poverty Reduction.' The Women Parliamentarians Conference precedes the main event, which will be inaugurated by President Pratibha Patil, on Tuesday.

Nearly 800 delegates and observers are attending the main Conference, whose theme is 'Delivering Democracy and Sustainable Development.' Minister of State for Women and Child Development Renuka Chaudhary will also address the inaugural of the CWP.

The women delegates to the 1989 Plenary Session held in Barbados founded the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Group.

UNI