“There is a lack of motivation in our younger generation with regards to social activities and commitment towards the needy”, says Titty Varghese, the leader of the Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) Women Leadership Network (WLN). In order to connect with colleagues, the representatives of the KTU WLN participated in the conference organised by Vilnius Women House.
The topic of the Conference, organised by the leading NGO in Lithuania was women’s rights in our country: the achieved victories and future challenges, also the law’s against domestic violence implementation experiences in 2011–2016. The Conference was dedicated to the international campaign of 16 days against violence against women.
Among the speakers of the Conference were: Victoria Čmilytė-Nielsen, MP, Parliamentary Human Rights Committee of Lithuania, Dag Halvorsen Malmer, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway, Dovilė Šakalienė MP, Lilia Vasiliauskienė, the leader of the association Vilnius Women’s House, Professor Dalia Leinart, the UN CEDAW Committee Vice President and others.
According to Varghese, empowerment of women society is one of the main aims of the KTU WLN, and the information obtained in the Conference is very important to the Network’s community.
“Lithuanian women in general are not overshadowed by men, as they are more educated, and they have all rights to pursue their individual goals and have bright life perspectives. However, it is essential to cultivate the mentality of younger generation, so as they were supportive and helpful to the underprivileged and marginalised section of our society”, says the leader of the KTU WLN.
Founded in 2015, KTU WLN aims to foster women’s development, to cultivate leadership among women, to develop valuable skills and competences for women’s academic and non-academic careers, to give assistance and support to women with different needs. KTU WLN has 15 active members, 13 of them are international students.