State’s focus on women’s safety has led to more of them joining workforce: UN representative

Kerala’s sustained measures in women’s safety, inclusiveness, and economic empowerment have helped it to make “exemplary” contributions to the country’s rising female labour participation, UN Women India Country Representative Susan Ferguson has said.

Kerala’s sustained measures in women’s safety, inclusiveness, and economic empowerment have helped it to make “exemplary” contributions to the country’s rising female labour participation, UN Women India Country Representative Susan Ferguson has said.

Addressing the ‘Global Women Conference on Gender Inclusive and Responsible Tourism’ at Mankulam near Munnar in Idukki on Sunday, Ms. Ferguson said that the State’s “emphasis on ensuring safety for women in public spaces complements the need for safety in tourism.”

While talking about the session on ‘Creating Safe and Inclusive Tourism Spaces on the Theme: Safety, Inclusivity, and Global Trends’, Ms. Ferguson said, “a safe environment not only attracts more women travellers but enables women to confidently work in diverse roles within the industry, such as tour operators, guides, and entrepreneurs,” she observed.

Gender assessment and women’s safety audits are “critical to developing sustainable and inclusive tourism,” Ms. Ferguson said.

The Gender Assessment and Women’s Safety Audit by KRTMS makes some critical policy advocacy and evidence-based recommendations to improve service delivery and public infrastructure and to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls, she pointed out. “I am looking forward to seeing the recommendations of the audit being implemented in Kerala and Kerala’s model tourism expanded to other States in India,” she added.

According to the organizers, the three-day-long conference observed that Kerala has a “perfect ecosystem” to tap into the economic opportunities created by women tourists and female entrepreneurs in the travel industry.

“As the number of women tourists is increasing rapidly across the world, Kerala holds “great potential” to utilize this opportunity amid the State’s progressive stance on gender justice. Exploring its scope will enable Kerala to become a destination of international repute on social equality as well,” said an official.