Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya says women’s leadership is no longer merely a target for achieving gender equality but has become essential for global survival.
Addressing the Commonwealth Women’s Forum (CWF) on Monday (02), the Prime Minister stressed that women’s leadership is fundamental to strengthening global resilience.
“Women’s leadership is no longer merely an equality target; it is a condition for global survival,” she stated.
The Prime Minister made these remarks during the opening plenary session of the forum, held under the theme “Advancing Gender Equality: Investment in a Prosperous and Resilient Commonwealth.”
Highlighting challenges such as geopolitical instability, gender-based violence, technology-facilitated abuse and climate change, Amarasuriya called for stronger responses that reflect the realities faced by women in the Global South.
She emphasised the need to dismantle structural barriers preventing women from accessing positions of power, financial resources and security.
Addressing the disproportionate impact of climate change on women, particularly in vulnerable island nations, the Prime Minister called for climate justice and direct, non-debt-creating climate investments in community-led initiatives.
She further stressed that achieving meaningful gender equality requires collective action involving governments, civil society, the private sector, and men and boys as active allies.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister announced that Sri Lanka will host the 14th Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting (WAMM), reaffirming the country’s commitment to advancing gender equality.
Concluding her address, Amarasuriya urged Commonwealth member states to translate their commitments into meaningful action to ensure prosperity, autonomy and resilience for women and girls.
According to the Prime Minister’s Media Division, the session was attended by Queen Camilla, the Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General, Commonwealth leaders and other dignitaries. (Newswire)