Celebrating women whose voices enrich democratic debate and challenge social injustice, the Indian Federation of United Nations Associations (IFUNA) marked International Women’s Day 2026 with a special programme in New Delhi honouring women journalists, media educators and professionals who have made significant contributions to public life.
The event brought together a diverse gathering of journalists, scholars, diplomats, members of the judiciary, government officials, corporate leaders and students to celebrate women’s achievements and leadership across multiple fields. The programme recognised women whose work in journalism, media education, healthcare, academia and social advocacy has helped strengthen democratic dialogue, public awareness and institutional development in India.
The ceremony was graced by Indira Banerjee, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India and former Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, who attended the event as the Chief Guest and felicitated the honourees. Justice Banerjee is among the few women to have served at the highest levels of India’s judiciary and is widely respected for her contributions to constitutional jurisprudence and her distinguished judicial career spanning decades.
IFUNA, which holds Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), organised the programme under the global theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls.” The celebration also highlighted the “Give To Gain” campaign, an initiative encouraging individuals and institutions to support women’s empowerment through cooperation, generosity and shared responsibility.
The programme began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by the Chief Guest along with IFUNA office bearers. Shambhu Nath Srivastava, President of IFUNA, welcomed the gathering and spoke about the continued importance of equality, justice and human dignity in contemporary public life.
IFUNA Secretary General Suresh Srivastava introduced the organisation and the Chief Guest, highlighting IFUNA’s engagement with United Nations principles and its role in promoting civic dialogue, public participation and awareness about the Sustainable Development Goals.
A special feature of the programme was a poetic tribute presented by Munish Sabharwal, former President of Amar Ujala and former Vice-President of Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.. His poem reflected on the powerful role women play in shaping society, public opinion and national discourse.
During the ceremony, a distinguished group of women journalists was honoured for their professional achievements. Among them were Santwana Bhattacharya, Editor at The New Indian Express Group; Vinaya Shriram Joshi of Pudhari Publication Pvt. Ltd.; Sujata Madhok, President of the Delhi Union of Journalists; T. K. Rajalakshmi, New Delhi Bureau Chief of Frontline; Naghma Sahar, Senior Editor and Anchor with NDTV; Indrani Sarkar of Hindustan Samachar; and veteran journalist and publisher Renu Kaul Verma, formerly associated with The Indian Express and Hindustan Times.
The programme also honoured women professionals and educators including Charu Lata, Dean at the Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies under Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University; Neeru Johri of Jagannath International Management Institute; senior academic Susmita Bala; Kavita Vats of S. P. Mukherjee College for Women; Kumari Seema of the University of Delhi; naturopath Rajrani Singhal; Sanhita Sinha, Chief Human Resource Officer at The Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease; and paediatric occupational therapist Sweta Wadhwa.
Following the felicitation ceremony, the honourees briefly addressed the audience and reflected on the evolving responsibilities of journalism, education, healthcare and professional leadership in contemporary society.
One of the highlights of the event was an interactive session with students from institutions such as Jagannath International Management Institute, Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies and South Asian University. Young women students engaged with the distinguished journalists in a lively discussion on ethical journalism, professional integrity and the challenges of navigating the rapidly changing media landscape.
Speakers emphasised that maintaining credibility and public trust in journalism is increasingly important in an era of technological disruption and information overload. They also encouraged aspiring journalists to pursue their profession with courage, responsibility and a commitment to public service.
The celebration ended with a collective reaffirmation of the importance of mentoring young women professionals, expanding opportunities for women leaders and amplifying women’s voices in public life as key steps toward building a more inclusive and equitable society.
NewsHasghag operates a 24/7 news bureau that tracks the real-time, social media-driven stories from India and around the world, keeping you ahead of the day’s key talking points. Our digital-first approach transforms storytelling through the seamless integration of data, interactive charts, video, and audio into every narrative
