By Editorial Team
With the advent of the 21st century, the democratic needs of developing countries rose above the basic tenets of food, clothing, and shelter. Individual rights intersected with class, sect, and gendered lenses to address the more specific requirements of oppressed classes and marginalized communities. Access Polity has taken a crucial step in this direction through the ‘School of Campaigners’ in their ongoing efforts to establish more inclusive, gender-equal democratic political spaces.
After an extensive application process, 22 Fellows from India and the Philippines were selected for a six-week program spanning October to December 2024. The cohort was trained under the guidance of socio-political leaders to incorporate revolutionary ideas in their future political campaigns. The School of Campaigners will culminate with the International Conclave on Strengthening Democracy on the 9th and 10th of January at TERI- The Energy Resource Institute in Gurgaon.
The cohort will participate in interactive sessions and panel discussions with eminent guest speakers, committed to the cause of reimagining 21st century with the purview of gender, and 100 special invitees will grace the occasion on January 10. Apart from gender equality and political leadership, the role of men as allies is a key aspect of this conference to achieve true inclusiveness.
The entire list of sessions and panels is provided below:
The Sessions
- Know your Own Politics through Applied Theatre
- Ms. Vandana Pandey, Founder & Executive Officer, Rang Kaarwaan
- Feminist Campaigning
- Ms. Arshiya Kochar, Senior Program Manager at One Future Collective & Social Psychologist
- Political Campaigning
- Ms. Vasudha Singh, Founder & CEO of VoteBridge
- Data Politics
- Mr. Devesh Kumar, Research Associate at Lokniti-CSDS
- Building Political Resilience
- Ms. Hemakshi Meghani, Co-founder of Indian School of Democracy
The Panels
- Reimagining 21st-Century Leadership from a Gender Lens
- Ms. Kavita Nandini Ramdas, Intersectional Feminist & Public Intellectual
- Ms. Suki Capobianco, Chief Strategy Officer, Apolitical Foundation
- Ms. Sairee Chahal, Founder, Mahila Money & Appreciate Capitals
- Ms. Ishrat Jahan, Political Leader, Lawyer & Social Activist
- Ms. Avani Bansal, Advocate, the Supreme Court of India
- Making Politics Safe and Viable for Women
- Ms. Sara Abdullah Pilot, Founder, Centre for Equity and Inclusion (CEQUIN)
- Ms. Charu Pragya, Spokesperson, BJP
- Ms. Juhie Singh, Spokesperson, Samajwadi Party
- Ms. Vinta Nanda, Filmmaker, Activist, and Editor of The Daily Eye
- Ms. Kunthida Rungruengkiat, Former Member of Parliament, Thailand
- Ms. Kanksshi Agarwal, Founder, NETRI Foundation and Access Polity
- Setting Narratives for Gender Equality-Men as Allies
- Mr. Dilip Cherian, Founder, Perfect Relations
- Mr. Krishna Allavaru, National Incharge, Indian Youth Congress
- Mr. Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Ghanaian Lawyer & Social Activist
- Mr. Nikhil Taneja, Co-Founder & Chief at Yuvaa
- Mr. Rohit Kumar, Co-Founder, Young Leaders for Active Citizenship
‘School of Campaigners’ as an initiative was conceptualized as an infrastructure-building tool for inclusive election campaigns in South Asian countries. Launched in 2024, the program will mark its successful completion of ‘Running Gender Inclusive Political Campaigns’ at the conclave this week. In a coordinated effort, Access Polity also invited participation from Filipino campaigners and valued their expert insights on shaping political ecosystems through a gender lens.
The event promises to bring together prominent Indian and international voices in political leadership, advocacy, and gender justice.
