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Investing in women also includes addressing discrimination and ensuring laws, policies, budgets and investments that respond to their needs

• It is time that Sri Lanka prioritises women’s empowerment and recognises that gender equality is not only a matter of rights but the bedrock of equitable, peaceful and prosperous society. However, it takes investment to build inclusive communities and societies with the full participation of women and girls from all backgrounds

• When global crisis such as poverty, hunger occur, and climate disasters, women and girls are affected the most

• Gender inequality is also reflected in women’s representation and participation in leadership, which abysmally low in Sri Lanka

International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate woman and girls around the world and applaud all they have achieved in the fight for equality. However, despite progress, girls and women continue to face systemic barriers that undermine their rights, limit their opportunities, and diminish their well-being. When global crisis such as poverty, hunger occur, and climate disasters, women and girls are affected the most. This is also the case in Sri Lanka where women and girls have been disproportionately affected by economic crisis and lasting effects, further exacerbating existing vulnerabilities. Gender inequality is also reflected in women’s representation and participation in leadership, which remains abysmally low in Sri Lanka. Ay national levels of government, only 5.3 per cent of Parliament members are women, and only one woman is the Cabinet of ministers. Although Sri Lanka has previously legislated a 25 per cent quota for women’s representation in local government, women who had been in these positions were often kept from meaningful leadership through harassment and exclusion.

Realising women’s rights is not only a moral imperative, but also a smart economic investment. Globally, over 100 million women and girls could be lifted out of poverty if governments employed a comprehensive strategy aimed at improving access to education and family planning, fair and equal wages, and expanding social transfers. Closing gender gaps in employment could boost GDP per capita by 20 per cent, which would grow economics, boost tax revenues, and expand opportunities for all.

It is time that Sri Lanka prioritises women’s empowerment and recognises that gender equality is not only a matter of rights but the bedrock of equitable, peaceful and prosperous society. However, it takes investment to build inclusive communities and societies with the full participation of women and girls from all backgrounds. This includes public and private investment in programmes to end violence against the women, ensure decent work, and drive women’s inclusion and leadership across all sectors of government and the economy.

Investing in women also includes actively addressing discrimination and ensuring laws, policies, budgets and investments that respond to their needs. Having women in positions of power can help tod drive investment in policies and programmes that respond to women and girls’ realities. Men play a vital role in challenging and changing gender stereotypes and norms within families, communities and workplaces. By advocating for gender equality, men can be powerful allies and create environment that value and leverage the talents of everyone, paving the way of sustainable development.