NEW DELHI, India: Sarawak will host the South Asian International Women’s Assembly 2026 (SIWA2026) in Kuching from Sept 8 to 10.
It will be another milestone in the state’s efforts to promote women’s empowerment, inclusive leadership and regional cooperation.
Sarawak Women, Childhood and Community Well-being Development Minister, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, led an official delegation to New Delhi for discussions with Professor Dr Veena Sikri, founder and trustee of the South Asian Women’s Network (SWAN), on Tuesday.
The delegation was accompanied by the Sarawak Indian Women Association (SIWA), including its president, Penghulu Lucy Linggam.
The engagement focused on strengthening strategic collaboration between SWAN and SIWA ahead of SIWA2026, which will be held at the Riverside Majestic Hotel here.
The Assembly, themed ‘From the Himalayas to the Hornbills: The Global Ascent of South Asian Women Leaders’, is envisioned as a high-level platform bringing together policymakers, academics, civil society leaders, professionals and diaspora figures from across Asia and beyond.
Among the key highlights of SIWA2026 is a forum titled ‘Hard Truths and Shared Triumphs from the Diaspora’s Trailblazers’, featuring candid discussions on leadership challenges, resilience, identity and cross-border impact among South Asian women leaders worldwide.
The three-day event is expected to convene a broad cross-section of civil society, involving about 110 Sarawak-based women’s non-governmental organisations, Sarawak Indian and South Asian NGOs, as well as community partners engaged through SIWA’s collaborative networks.
During the New Delhi meeting, Dr Veena extended an invitation to Fatimah, in her capacity as SIWA patron, to participate in a dialogue and consultation session.
Her participation helped facilitate early alignment on collaboration areas, programme design, technical cooperation and the overall strategic direction of SIWA2026.
The engagement also underscores Sarawak’s role as a forward-looking partner in advancing regional dialogue on women’s empowerment, social inclusivity and sustainable development, while positioning Kuching as a regional hub for international discourse on women’s leadership and cross-collaboration.
