ICA Asia Pacific Women Committee Celebrates 25th Anniversary in Japan

By: WE Staff | Wednesday, 13 September 2023

The ICA Asia and Pacific Committee on Women (Women’s Committee) is commemorating its 25th anniversary on September 19 and 20, 2023. To mark this milestone, a special event is being hosted in Tokyo by the Japanese Consumers’ Co-operative Union (JCCU), in collaboration with the Women’s Committee.

This event includes a hybrid program on September 19 and a field visit to local cooperatives in Tokyo on September 20. The Women’s Committee's present Office Bearers are Ms. Chitose Arai (Chairperson) from JCCU and Ms. Priti Patel (Vice-Chairperson) from the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI).

To underline the significance of the 25th anniversary, the Women’s Committee has chosen the theme and tagline, “Gender Equality for a Brighter Future.” Distinguished attendees will include Women’s Committee members, emerging women leaders in the cooperative sector, ICA Asia and Pacific representatives, Japanese cooperators, supporters, advocates of gender equality from organizations like UN Women, and Japanese government officials.

The event will provide an opportunity to reflect on the Women’s Committee's achievements over the past quarter-century and to discuss future directions, emerging priorities, and calls to action for the next 25 years. It will also feature the launch of a special booklet containing commendations from stakeholders, case studies highlighting gender equality efforts in the cooperative sector, and insights into governance and law.

Established in 1998 in Seoul, South Korea, the ICA Asia and Pacific Committee on Women is dedicated to promoting gender inclusion and equality within cooperatives across Asia and the Pacific. Its initiatives aim to advance gender equality within cooperatives and address the unique interests and needs of women involved in the cooperative sector. The JCCU, an ICA member since 1971, plays a vital role in supporting the Women’s Committee’s endeavours.