WIPKL 2017: Platform enhancing women leadership to stay relevant

KUALA LUMPUR: The Women in Politics 2017 (WIPKL) international conference, which starts tomorrow, will create a platform for women to adopt the Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0) to stay relevant in the digital era, said Wanita Umno Chief, Tan Sri Shahrizat Jalil.
Themed "Women & Industrial Revolution 4.0: Leadership and Substantive Equality", she said, the two-day conference would create awareness for women in politics to understand the use of technologies.
"IR4.0 is crucial for women leaders in politics to understand and lead the women so that they remain relevant. If they do not understand IR4.0, they will be left behind.
"This conference is important not only for Malaysian women, but we hope it will create a new political highway for all women leaders, especially politics," she said at a press conference after a breakfast meeting with foreign women leaders here today.
WIPKL 2017 is held in conjunction with the Umno general assembly. WIPKL was first convened in 2015 during Malaysia's Chairmanship of Asean.

Sharizat said speakers from 18 countries and 27 political parties, including the United States, Uganda, Palestine, Mauritius and Kyrgyzstan would participate in the conference, to be held at Putra World Trade Centre here.
She hoped the conference, to be attended by iconic women, would inspire more women in the country, especially those in politics, to create more success stories.
"We will forward resolutions passed at the conference to countries involved. Apart from that, I'll inform the prime minister to ensure Malaysian women are not left out in the world politics," she said.
About 1,000 delegates are expected to participate in WIPKL 2017. The speakers will include Government Chief Whip of Uganda Ruth Nankabirwa; Singapore Second Minister of Manpower Josephine Teo and United Nations Women Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Dr Miwa Kato.
The conference will address the importance of substantive equality and women leadership in a world that is impacted by the IR4.0.

It also provides an opportunity for delegates to build new ties and encourages discussion on women issues and politics.
WIPKL 2017 is organised by Wanita Umno and will be opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak. — Bernama