Celebrating International Women's Day- Sri Lanka/Pakistan Province

“Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step it up for gender equality”

International Women’s Day is a day to reflect on the progress women have made and to celebrate their courage and determination in fighting for their rights. It is also a day to recognize the challenges women around the world still face today- a reminder that equality for all women and girls remains a goal we must achieve.

In 2015, countries all over the world agreed on the need for comprehensive financing for development and thus adopted new sustainable development goals (SDGs)  built on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) drafted in 2000. The new sustainable development goals aim to complete what the MDGs did not achieve, and go much further, addressing the root causes of poverty and inequality and the universal need for the development that work for all people.  The new agenda was based on 17 goals which aimed to end poverty by 2030.

The 2016 theme for International Women’s Day is “Planet 50-50 by 2030:Step it up for gender equality”.  If we are to achieve the global goals by 2030 we must start by empowering women and girls. Goals that work for women and girls are goals that will work for the world.

Good Shepherd Justice Peace Committee of the Province of Sri Lanka/Pakistan , organized Women’s Day Celebration in different parts of the country-namely, Seeduwa, Kolonnawa, See Street, Madawachchiya, Bloemendhal and Stadiamgama, Henamulla that  belongs to Grandpass  targeting young parents. The main objective of the celebration was to make young mothers aware of the different ways in which they can contribute to reduce violence against women by forming their young children within the family settings. Most of the times we tend to bring up our children with discriminatory practices (treating unfairly) which give the superiority to boy child. This contributes to maintain unhealthy customary practices which block achieving gender equality in our society.   

The participants were able to understand how women, as mothers can inculcate correct attitudes in their children thus contribute towards gender equality.

Programme at Stadiamgama and Henamulla which belong to Grandpass

 Programme at Seeduwa

 Programme at Kolonnawa

Programe in Madawachchiya

Programe in BLoemendhal