Today, 8^th March is International Women’s Day and this year’ theme  “The time is now: Rural and urban activists transforming women’s lives” captures the tenacious life and attitudes of the women activists whose passion and commitment have won women’s rights over the generations, and successfully brought change to their communities.

This resonates with FPA Sri Lanka as well, who for 65 years has been propagating Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights to all and continues to work towards eliminating sexual and gender based violence in the community and educational institutions and realizing gender equality in all spheres of life.

In celebration of IWD, a paper supplement was distributed with today’s edition of the Daily Mirror, which highlighted the partnership between FPA Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs. The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs together with FPA Sri Lanka through advocacy efforts are planning to take forward the Sexual Gender Based Violence Action plan in minimizing teenage pregnancy and early marriages in Sri Lanka.

We will also take part in the Inauguration of the ‘Sri Lanka Stakeholder SDG Platform’ and National Dialogue on ‘The Linkages between Alcohol-Drugs-Tobacco, Women-Youth-Children and the Sustainable Development Goals’ meeting that will take place today at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute.

Women’s empowerment is at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals means progress for all women, everywhere. Gender equality is a human rights issue and history has shown that investing in women is the most effective way to lift communities, and thereby even countries.

FPA Sri Lanka pledges to keep on pressing forward to realize the goal of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for all and to empowering women and girls in Sri Lanka.

In commemoration of this day, the Alokaya Counselling Centre, conducted a programme for the staff of FPA Sri Lanka addressing the topic  “How to cope with the psychological and emotional changes in connection with biological changes that occur in a woman throughout her life time” which was delivered by Dr. Kanthi Hettigoda, Clinical Psychologist-Navy Hospital, Ragama.