UN grants consultative status to HemAth for displaced Kashmiri women

HemAth has secured Special Consultative Status with the UN's ECOSOC, opening direct access to global policy forums. The move strengthens advocacy for displaced Kashmiri women and expands scope for partnerships on empowerment.

In Short

• The group began as a grassroots effort supporting displaced Kashmiri women
• Its programmes blend mentorship, skills training, education, wellness and entrepreneurship
• Founder Shakun Malik called the journey deeply personal and community-led

The United Nations has granted Special Consultative Status to HemAth Inc, a US-based non-profit that works to empower displaced and underserved Kashmiri women. The recognition gives the organisation a formal platform to engage with the world body and advocate for women "whose voices are often unheard".

HemAth's new status with the UN Economic and Social Council, or ECOSOC, marks a significant step for the organisation, which began as a grassroots initiative focused on displaced Kashmiri women. Founder and President Dr Shakun Malik said the recognition takes HemAth into international conversations on women's empowerment, sustainable development and social inclusion.

Last month, ECOSOC adopted the recommendation of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organisations to grant HemAth special consultative status. According to the UN, this status allows an organisation to engage with ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies, the Human Rights Council and, under specific conditions, some meetings of the General Assembly and other intergovernmental bodies, as well as with the UN Secretariat. HemAth will now be able to take part in relevant meetings and conferences, submit written statements, make oral presentations where appropriate, organise side events, and work with member states, UN entities and other civil society organisations on issues linked to its mission.

HemAth, named after the Kashmiri word for "strength", was set up to support displaced Kashmiri women by preserving their cultural heritage while creating pathways to economic independence. Through mentorship, skills training, entrepreneurship, education and wellness initiatives, it aims to restore dignity, opportunity and hope to women affected by displacement and adversity. Malik, who is from the Kashmiri Pandit community and is also an oncologist and humanitarian, said founding HemAth has been a "deeply personal journey" inspired by women who have endured displacement and hardship while continuing to preserve their heritage and work for a better future.

Malik said, "Receiving Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC is a tremendous honour that recognises the strength of community-led solutions and gives us a global platform to advocate for women whose voices are often unheard." She said the organisation plans to engage actively with the UN by sharing evidence-based community experiences, taking part in policy discussions, collaborating with international partners and promoting approaches that empower women and strengthen communities. HemAth also wants to build partnerships with governments, UN agencies, academic institutions, philanthropic organisations and global civil society to expand programmes that advance gender equality, education, entrepreneurship and inclusive development.

Malik said HemAth focuses particularly on women from the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community, many of whom continue to face economic hardship, interrupted education and limited employment opportunities decades after displacement. She said the organisation has developed an integrated model that addresses the social, economic, educational and emotional aspects of women's development, while also supporting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through work on economic opportunity, education, wellness, leadership and cultural preservation. "This recognition is not simply about HemAth," Malik said. "It represents the resilience of every woman who refused to let displacement define her future. Their courage and determination inspire our work every day. We are honoured to help bring their experiences, ideas, and aspirations into international conversations that shape a more equitable world." As it begins this new phase of international engagement, HemAth said it remains committed to expanding educational opportunities, strengthening economic resilience, preserving cultural heritage and building leadership among women and girls, while serving as a bridge between local communities and global institutions.

With PTI Inputs

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