Our World, Connected British Council

Though progress has been made, there is still a long road ahead to gender equality.

Join us as we explore existing and emerging barriers and opportunities for women’s empowerment, from deeply rooted social norms to new frontiers in technology.

In the studio, our host Christine Wilson explores the multifaceted dimensions of gender equality with Naila Kabeer, Professor of Gender and Development at the London School of Economics. Our expert on-the-ground, Dharini Priscilla, reports from Sri Lanka, where digital technology creates new opportunities as well as new dangers for women's well-being and empowerment.

Together, Christine, Naila, and Dharini confront the pressing issues and promising developments driving the agenda for gender equality worldwide.



Dive deeper:

Next Generation: What we know on women and girls - https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/next-generation-women-girls 

Dharini’s report on the gendered dimensions of Sri Lankan media - https://www.irex.org/MEND_Gender_in_Sri_Lanka_Media_English.pdf  

Naila discussing a gender-responsive age-sensitive social protection strategy with the UNICEF Innocenti Centre - https://tinyurl.com/236y724h 

Naila’s latest book ‘Renegotiating Patriarchy: Gender, Agency and the Bangladesh Paradox’ (LSE Press) will be published later in 2024. 



Follow British Council Research and Insight:

Newsletter – https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/subscribe 

Twitter – https://twitter.com/InsightBritish 

Website - https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight 

Culture is fundamental to who we are as human beings. Yet it is missing from global efforts to resolve the most pressing human issues of our time.



Discover why recognising the importance of culture can open the door to a more equitable, sustainable, and connected world – and hear about priorities for action. 



Our host, Christine Wilson, is joined in the studio by Professor Alexandra Xanthaki, the United Nations Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights. We also travel to Brazil, where Pedro Affonso Ivo Franco tells us about his work as an International Consultant for Culture, Creativity and Development and how, amid the vibrant rhythms of Maracatu, culture creates new opportunities for communities. 



In this first episode of ‘Our World, Connected’, Christine, Alexandra and Pedro discuss topics such as locally-led development, cultural and human rights, and whether culture deserves its own Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).



Dive deeper:



The Missing Foundation: Culture’s place within and beyond the SDGs – https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/missing-foundation-report 



Pedro’s essay on the Cambinda Estrela Cultural Centre and Maracatu - https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/ch4ig_essays_ivofranco_1_web.pdf

 

Alexandra’s role as the UN Special Rapporteur and latest reports -https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-cultural-rights

 

Follow British Council Research and Insight:



Newsletter – https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/subscribe 

Twitter – https://twitter.com/InsightBritish

 

Explore our insights:



Website - https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight

Our World, Connected is a brand-new podcast from the British Council, placing you at the heart of the biggest global conversations about culture, connection, and empowerment.

Join host Christine Wilson, Director of British Council Research and Insight, and a diverse lineup of world-renowned experts and thinkers as they examine the most pressing issues of our time - and uncover the human stories behind them.

Each episode will explore the transformative power of arts, culture, language, and education in the face of global challenges like peacebuilding, sustainable development, climate change, and the growth of AI.