Press Release
MAHATMA Peace Symposium 2024, the flagship Australia-India Cultural Synergies initiative by Saroni Roy Foundation (SRf), a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and Commemoration of his 155th Birth Anniversary hosted as a Cultural Diversity Collective at Parliament of NSW.
Sydney, 24th September, 2024 (IST News) – This one-of-a-kind SRf-initiative brought together government leaders, multicultural community leaders, pioneers of peacebuilding, including a Welcome Address by The Hon. Julia Finn MP, representing The Hon. Chris Minns MP, Premier of NSW, Australia-India Cultural Synergies Keynote Address by The Hon. Warren Kirby MP, State Parliamentary Friends of India-Australia, The Hon. Jodie Harrison MP, Minister for Women, The Hon. Jacqui Munro MLC, The Hon. Nathan Hagarty MP, The Hon. Charishma Kaliyanda MP, The Hon. Tim ames MP, The Hon. Matt Cross MP, The Hon. Stephen Bali MP, to perpetuate & celebrate Gandhian principles and values and its articulation in the UN-SDGs.
SRf’s commitment to promoting sustainable peace, resilient communities, and socio-economic development in honour of Mahatma Gandhi’s Birth Anniversary or ‘Gandhi Jayanti’ (2nd October International Day of Non-Violence), which SRf has been
commemorating every year since 2021. 2024 onwards, SRf’s focus is on the ‘Women, Peace & Security’ (WPS) Global Agenda, highlighting Mahatma Gandhi’s advocacy for the participation of women in Satyagraha movements marked a significant contribution to both women’s empowerment and the promotion of peace and non-violence.
A call-to-action, the Global Peacebuilders Forum 2024 panel discussion, featured Patricia Garcia AO, Dr Astrid Perry OAM, Dr Anna Cody, Saroni Roy, and launched ‘Super Naari – A Period Equity Initiative’, to address the global peace economics crisis of
period poverty. “Mission: 1 Million Super Naari’s to create opportunities and equitable access to basic human rights for girls & women, transgender-menstruating persons, people that need it most, leading to reduced school drop-out rates, accelerated participation at work, sports, aviation, business and more, destigmatizing menstrual health, offering a life of dignity in vulnerable and less-privileged communities. “Protecting and respecting women’s rights to reproductive health care is essential for gender equity and for building peaceful and resilient communities. Super Naari aims to inform, educate, and communicate the WPS crisis of ‘Period Poverty’, democratising and destigmatising menstruation.” – Saroni Roy, Founder & CEO, SRf.
The event featured Super Naari Awards 2024 for Outstanding Contribution towards ‘Women Peace & Security’ Global Agenda, and the ‘SRf Creatists For Peace’ segment included live performance of Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite songs by Saroni Roy along with Tanima Banerjee’s dance performance, leading duo Abhinav Bose & Rai Ali from Sarhad Project, ‘Mahatma My Hero’ speech by Prahar, Theatre Performance of ‘Gandhiji The World Needs You’ by Bandana Cultural School, ‘Spirit of Super Naari’ showcased through Raja Ravi Verma’s portrait of Damyanti, woven in Maheshwari Silk in collaboration with Saree Selections.
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