French Cabinet minister to visit India from Oct 25 to 28

NEW DELHI: France Cabinet Minister for Women's Rights and Spokesperson of the French Government Najat Vallaud-Belkacem will be on a four-day-visit to India starting tomorrow, an official release said today.

A French Embassy release said that the visit will be an opportunity to initiate an Indo-French dialogue on a range of social matters.

Vallaud-Belkacem will be received by Indian ministers Krishna Tirath, Shashi Tharoor and Sachin Pilot with whom she will discuss the global situation of women, including in France and India, the statement added.

The ministers will address ways and means of promoting women's empowerment and emancipation as well as jointly combating violence and discrimination against them, it said.

The French minister will bestow the distinction of Knight of the Legion of Honour ('Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur') on Anjali Gopalan, Founder and Executive Director of Naz Foundation, for reaching out to persons affected by HIV-AIDS and fighting against sexual discrimination tomorrow, the release said.

On October 28 (Monday), Vallaud-Belkacem will meet Indian women CEOs at the FICCI Ladies Organisation to gather their experiences.