India will host the BRICS Women Working Group (WWG) Meeting on July 6-7, 2026, in Kochi, Kerala, as part of its BRICS Chairship for the year. Senior government officials from all BRICS member countries will convene to deliberate on key issues related to women's empowerment across all sectors and women-led development, while advancing cooperation across shared priorities.
The meeting is guided by India's BRICS Chairship theme of "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability," which reflects a people-centric and humanity-first approach. The BRICS Women Track has focused on four specific priority areas: women in governance and leadership; women's digital and financial inclusion; women's entrepreneurship and skill development; and women's role in climate action, food security and nutrition.
The Working Group Meeting builds upon extensive consultations held through three virtual preparatory meetings convened on April 30, 2026, May 22, 2026, and June 29, 2026. These engagements have enabled member countries to advance discussions ahead of the physical meetings in Kochi. The BRICS Women Working Group Meeting is expected to lay a strong foundation for the BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting scheduled for July 8-9, 2026.
BRICS currently comprises 11 countries: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. Collectively, these nations account for approximately 40% of global GDP and represent about 49.5% of the global population, making women's political, social, and economic development within this bloc strategically significant for global outcomes.