The Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women, the leading world body committed to transforming the lives of women in Buddhist societies, has announced its submission deadline for panel presentation proposals for the 20th Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women. Prospective presenters are invited to submit their proposals for the biennial forum, which will be held in Magelang, Indonesia, from 19–26 June 2027, under the theme “Shaping Futures: Healing Bodies, Minds, and Communities.”
“Sakyadhita encourages diversity and creativity,” the organization noted in an announcement shared with BDG. “We welcome proposals from presenters of any gender, nationality, or status. We look forward to receiving your proposal!”
Click here for conference details
“Please note that this will be an in-person conference, and participants must register and are encouraged to plan accordingly. Paper presenters are responsible for their own conference related travel and participation fees.”
Sakyadhita International traces its beginnings to 1987 with a conference for Buddhist nuns held in Bodh Gaya, India, that was aimed at establishing support for the full ordination of female monastics in the Theravada tradition. In the more than 35 years since, Sakyadhita has evolved into an organization that is made up of, and aims to represent and empower, both monastic and lay women, with branches and chapters around the world.
“All proposals and papers must be the original, unpublished work of the presenters.,” Sakyadhita International emphasized. “You may use AI tools to assist in the editing of your own original text and images. You may not submit any AI-generated content, including text, translations, or images. You may not use AI tools to generate or create images or other illustrative materials. At the time of proposal submission, authors must fully indicate in the proposal their use of all AI tools.”
The Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women is now the world’s leading body committed to transforming the lives of women in Buddhist societies, aspiring to empower and unite Buddhist women, promote their welfare, and facilitate their work for the benefit of the Dharma and all sentient beings. “Sakyadhita” means Daughter of Shakya, the clan name of the historical Buddha. Working at the grassroots level, Sakyadhita provides an international network among Buddhist women, promoting research and publications and striving to create equal opportunities for women in all Buddhist traditions.
Sakyadhita International said paper proposals related to the following themes were strongly encouraged:
1. Compassion and Buddhist Approaches to Mental and Emotional Well-being
2. Women’s Leadership and Community Care in Buddhist Traditions
3. Mindfulness in Healthcare: Bridging Spirituality and Medicine
4. Environmental Stewardship and Social Responsibility in Buddhist Practice
5. Spirituality and Trauma Recovery: Addressing Personal and Collective Suffering
6. Buddhism and Gender Justice: Building Inclusive Communities
7. Digital Technology and Spiritual Practice in Buddhist Communities
8. Buddhist Perspectives on Resilience and Social Challenges
9. Social Inclusion and Gender Justice: Sakyadhita’s Role in Shaping a More Equitable Future
10. Youth, Buddhist Education, and Social Responsibility
Panel presentation proposals of 250 words should be submitted here by 30 July 2026. Sakyadhita International will send notifications of acceptance by 15 September 2026. Accepted proposal authors must submit their final papers of up to 2,000 words (for 10-minute papers) by 15 December 2026.
“The 20th Sakyadhita International Conference travels to Indonesia, bringing together Buddhist women from across the world’s traditions for five days of teachings, scholarship, and friendship,” said the organization. “Hosted by the Indonesian Buddhist Association, the program will feature plenary lectures, panel discussions, meditation sessions, cultural performances, and opportunities to connect with practitioners and scholars from over 30 countries.”
See more
Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women
Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women (Facebook)
Proposal Submission Form (20th International Conference on Buddhist Women)
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