It is very important that this year’s Women’s Day theme was aligned with the goal of achieving the Millennium Development Goals introduced to the world by the United Nations. Many of the Millennium Development Goals are connected to women. Increasing women’s contribution to the country’s development through their empowerment is a positive concept.

In developed countries, the percentage of women contributing to economic activities is around 48%, while in Sri Lanka, it is currently around 34%. In a society like ours, the risks women face and the deeply rooted traditional attitudes towards them have contributed to this low participation of women in the labour force. About 90% of women face various forms of sexual and physical harassment in transportation, and women are often subjected to harassment in workplaces and at home. Women’s Day should be a day to focus on women as well as girls. In 2023, 163 girls under the age of 16 were involved in illegal pregnancies, and this number increased to 213 in 2024. The youngest girl to become pregnant in 2024 was 10 years old. Through these statistics, we can identify the harassment and violence faced by Sri Lankan women and girls.

Traditional ideas such as “women are not as strong as men,” “women cannot work as much as men,” “women should always take care of children at home,” and “kitchen work should be done by women” often hinder women’s progress. Often, even when women have jobs, they are still expected to handle all household duties.

By identifying such issues and implementing appropriate remedies, and by strengthening the necessary policy framework, the theme of International Women’s Day can be given more meaning.

Tushara Senanayake