The United Nations in Sri Lanka marked United Nations Day 2024 at the UN Compound in Colombo, bringing together the Prime Minister, development partners, and civil society leaders to explore the recently adopted Pact for the Future.The Pact, a key outcome of the Summit of the Future held in New York in September, is a recommitment to addressing critical global challenges, including climate change, peacebuilding, and sustainable development.     The event highlighted the Pact for the Future as a call to action, urging local stakeholders to take ownership of its vision and advance its key action points. Discussions centered around how Sri Lanka can leverage the Pact to strengthen its sustainable development efforts, enhance multilateral cooperation, and promote peace and security.    UN Resident Coordinator Marc-André Franche emphasized the importance of multilateralism and collaboration: “In an increasingly polarized world, multilateralism remains our strongest tool. The Pact demonstrates that the international community can achieve broad agreements to act together. Today, all of us have the opportunity to own and champion this Pact for the Future.”    In her remarks, the Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya highlighted Sri Lanka’s long partnership with the United Nations and reaffirmed commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals: “As a new government, we are committed to addressing the structural challenges that have hindered Sri Lanka’s progress toward unity and sustainable development. We look to the United Nations as one of the key partners in our journey forward. Sri Lanka's success will also be a success for the UN, as we work toward building a more resilient, inclusive, and united future." The event featured a video presentation on the Pact for the Future, showcasing its key themes and the ways in which Sri Lanka can contribute to its global objectives, including achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, fostering digital transformation, and strengthening peacebuilding efforts.  As Sri Lanka continues to navigate a period of political and economic transition, the Pact for the Future provides a framework to drive progress and ensure that the country can emerge stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive.

In the bustling lanes of Wadugodawatte – a low-income housing project in western Sri Lanka - Fasmila Begum, a spirited 18-year-old, is rewriting the narrative on menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) among young girls in her community. Amidst the challenges of being the oldest in a family of five daughters, aged 17, 13, 10, and three, Fasmila found her voice, when she stepped into an awareness session on menstrual hygiene conducted by UNICEF’s WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) programme in partnership with Sri Lanka’s Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) and the Urban Settlement Development Authority (USDA). At this meeting, Fasmila found herself in a diverse crowd, where both adolescent boys and girls eagerly absorbed knowledge that would transform their perspectives on MHH. Physical and emotional wellbeingFasmila is one of the approximately 4.2 million menstruating women and girls in Sri Lanka, lacking access to adequate information on menstrual hygiene. She says therefore, the awareness session helped answer many questions, which were elusive to her earlier."I learned many new things, like the importance of regularly changing the pad throughout the day and healthy dietary habits. I used to wear one pad for most of the day and consume a lot of fizzy drinks during my period. But now I know better and engage in better menstrual hygiene practices,” Fasmila says reflecting on her lifestyle changes.But for her the journey did not stop at managing physical aspects; it extended to understanding the intricate link between her menstrual cycle and emotional well-being. "I'm more aware of why I have mood swings and feel more conscious of my emotions," she says.Fasmila is a passionate athlete – an active netball player and a runner. She says she faced unique challenges during menstruation, often pushing herself through strenuous practice sessions. However, armed with newfound knowledge, she realized the importance of listening to her body. She also realized that being more aware of MHH opened scope for her to be involved in more extracurricular activities. "I learned that if I feel fatigued, it's best to give my body rest during menstruation because it's working extra hard," she shares. Her wisdom is not confined to herself but is generously shared with her teammates and coaches.    Shattering myths and misconceptionsThe session also shattered myths and misconceptions that had long plagued Fasmila's understanding of menstruation. "I was told not to enter the kitchen or visit places of worship because I’m 'dirty' during menstruation," she recalls, a hint of defiance in her voice. "I never thought was a wrong way to think, but now I know I was right."Fuelled by a desire to spark change beyond herself, Fasmila took proactive steps to share her learnings with her school community. "During morning assembly, I worked through the media unit to take 45 minutes every few weeks to talk about menstrual hygiene and best practices," she explains, her commitment to open conversations evident. "Because I believe open conversations will help break taboos and reduce the stigma around menstruation.”Asanthi Balapitiya, Consultant Community Physician at the Health Promotion Bureau, highlights the importance of addressing MHH and the need for improved, open dialogue on MHH in Sri Lanka.“Menstrual health is a poorly acknowledged topic here in Sri Lanka, despite it affecting the majority of our population. It is not openly discussed, which perpetuates stigma and misconceptions. To tackle this, Health Promotion Bureau under the Ministry of Health established a national working committee with nine ministries, to improve menstrual health and environmental impact in Sri Lanka. They have initiated several programmes in collaboration with UN agencies like UNICEF and UNFPA. Strengthening and empowering menstrual health and hygiene will not only improve quality of life and promote gender rights but also enhance environmental health. This initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing its broad impact on our society,” she explained.    Putting men in menstruation Chanidu Himasa, a 16-year-old attendee of the same WASH session that focused on MHH, reflects on the impact it had on Fasmila and himself. "It was really simple and informative," he admits, a newfound sense of empowerment evident in his tone. "Even though this is taught in school for health, it's more from an anatomical point of view, and we don't understand it. But this was very practical, and I feel empowered to help my little sister and take care of her better,” he says adding, “It's also good to see my friends like Fasmila feeling empowered about themselves because of these trainings.”Fasmila's journey epitomizes empowerment. As we commemorate Menstrual Hygiene Day, Fasmila's story is a hopeful reminder that education can break barriers and transform communities. In her journey, Fasmila proves that breaking taboos is not about challenging norms; it is about paving the way for a future where every woman can live with dignity and pride. 

  “Negative perceptions about a girl’s capabilities, whether at home or at school, can lead girls to grow up believing that they can’t succeed in STEM fields,” explains Nevindaree Premarathne, 38, from Colombo, Sri Lanka.  Nevindaree is the founder and CEO of the Makers Global – an Education Technology company that aims to inspire students to use STEM to solve problems at their reach.Addressing gaps in STEM educationNoticing a significant disparity in hands-on STEM education among girls in Sri Lanka, Premarathne started this venture in January 2023, forging a path for the next generation of women in science and technology.     In 2017, according to available data by the University Grants Commission, women accounted for nearly half of undergraduate enrolments in STEM subjects in local universities. Yet, there are far fewer women working in these fields.“In most schools, girls don’t have the opportunity to study subjects like electronics. They may have theoretical knowledge in relation to STEM concepts yet lack practical skills. That is why I am passionate about STEM education and in exploring innovative teaching methods and curriculum development to address this gap,” she said.In February 2024, UN Women and the European Union in Sri Lanka teamed up with the Makers Global to introduce the MakHer series to 10 schools around the island. The MakHer series is designed to empower girls with skills needed to excel in STEM fields. It consists of hands-on workshops featuring robotics, innovation, prototyping and incorporating STEM concepts to solve social issues, thereby fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills.   Driven by the belief that every girl has potential to succeed in STEM, the workshops connect students with industry experts: “Exposure to female role models in STEM fields is vital for inspiring confidence and ambition among students, affirming that girls can thrive in STEM careers,” said Premarathne.Empowering girls in ICTAmong the students participating in the workshop was 18-year-old Safa Rizan, a biological science student interested in pursuing genetic engineering. Rizan attended the MakHer workshop in February 2024 along with 100 other students from her school.   Rizan echoed that “In our education system we only have science, math and the basics. There are more subjects that could be included within our curriculum, like the application of medical sciences into applied sciences. In terms of application of knowledge, if we were taught this in school, it would be advantageous for us when choosing careers later in life”.Rizan explains that she was inspired by the application of theory into practice at the MakHer workshop: “The students knew about circuits… we draw them every day at school, but when we had to build that circuit and put it into use, no one was able to do so without being guided. I learned that the knowledge we gain is not particularly enough for us to navigate this world if we don’t know how to apply it.”“It was only after this workshop that I started researching more about genetic engineering and bioinformatics.”   Noting that the world would look much “better and diverse” if girls had equal opportunities and access to technology, Rizan explains that “It’s not just about one specific community being able to mitigate their problems. If we have other genders involved, it will enable us to understand the issues and problems they face and help mitigate them. If girls and women were given equal opportunities, we would be seeing much more efficient development,” she added.Rizan also highlighted how a girl’s confidence is often hindered because of societal biases: “There was a project I worked on in one of my extra-curricular activities. We were given a problem to solve, and we had to use computers to analyze that problem. The lecturers were expecting more responses from boys than girls, but girls also had a lot to contribute in terms of solutions.”Safa Rizan’s message on International Girls in ICT DayRizan’s message to young girls is to not to let anyone break their confidence: “We shouldn’t confine ourselves, or our opportunities based on what people around us say. At the same time, we shouldn’t confine ourselves within the limited scope of career paths we are always told to choose from. Be open to new opportunities that are arising. Keep working on yourselves and be someone who cannot be replaced – then no one can stop you from working in that field”.

International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate women 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 crises such as climate disasters, poverty, and hunger occur, women and girls are affected the most. This is also the case in Sri Lanka where women and girls have been disproportionately affected by the economic crisis and its 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. At national levels of government, only 5.3 per cent of Parliament members are women, and only one woman is in 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.   Building Blocks of SuccessRealizing 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 economies, boost tax revenues, and expand opportunities for all.The story of Vakshala, a 26-year-old mother from Kinnayadi embodies the transformative power of investing in women. After years of displacement due to conflict, Vakshala and her family began to rebuild their lives by starting a business in cement block production. The turning point in Vakshala's entrepreneurial journey came through a training programme supported by the United Nations. The programme, which aims to foster sustainable peace and socio-economic development among resettled communities in Sri Lanka, equipped Vakshala and other entrepreneurs with the insights and resources needed to strategically expand their business.   Today, Vakshala's business thrives, producing over 300 cement blocks daily and generating a monthly income that significantly contributes to the livelihoods of her family and broader community. More than just a source of income, her business stands as a beacon of self-reliance and empowerment, offering employment opportunities to young people within her community.   Breaking Barriers in the Maritime SectorAs one of the few female transfer crane operators in Sri Lanka's Colombo port, Ruchini is pioneering change in a field traditionally dominated by men. Her participation in a UN-supported work-based learning programme in the maritime sector equipped her with the necessary skills and confidence to excel in her role.   Ruchini's story is not just about personal achievement, but about challenging societal norms and inspiring other women to explore opportunities in male-dominated sectors. With women’s participation in Sri Lanka’s labour force continuously stagnant at the lower end of 30%, training programmes such as these create pathways for more women to gain employment in skilled categories and better paying positions. In turn, this invites more diverse insights and perspectives that can drive the industry forward, while also meeting the sector’s increasing labour demand. Unlocking the Potential of Girls through EducationWhen girls and women have an equal opportunity to learn, participate and lead, communities and societies prosper. Investing in girls’ education allows them to earn higher incomes, participate in the decisions that most affect them, and build better futures for themselves and their families. It contributes to more stable, resilient societies that give all individuals – including boys and men – the opportunity to fulfil their potential. But education for girls is about more than access to school. It’s also about girls feeling safe in classrooms and supported in the subjects and careers they choose to pursue.   For young girls like Pavani, a 15-year-old student in the Badulla District, innovative educational approaches based on positive disciplining techniques have been instrumental for improving her well-being and academic performance. Initiatives like these are particularly important for girls as they foster an environment where they feel valued, respected, and motivated. By investing in safer learning environments that are more gender-responsive, the UN in Sri Lanka aims to ensure that girls are able engage actively in their education, leading to better outcomes and empowering them to pursue their dreams without limitations. Empowering women – one meal at a timeRuwani’s transformation from a struggling single mother to a successful school meal caterer exemplifies the immense potential of the national school meal programme. Escaping years of abuse at the hands of her partner, Ruwani experienced economic challenges, which were exacerbated during the economic crisis. The Government budget allocated per school meal proved insufficient in the face of soaring food prices, and caterers like Ruwani were operating at a loss. Eggs, among other food items, were in short supply and the school menu’s mandatory requirement of twice-weekly eggs seemed impossible to comply with.   Ruwani found a lifeline through the UN’s Home Grown School Feeding project, which provided her with resources including chickens, feed and a shed to establish a poultry farm. Able to source eggs from her own backyard meant Ruwani was finally financially stable. The benefits were manifold, as Ruwani not only gained a sustainable source of income but was also able to help strengthen the school meal programme and provide children with fresh and nutritious food in school. Investing in ProgressIt is time that Sri Lanka prioritizes women’s empowerment and recognizes that gender equality is not only a matter of rights but the bedrock of an 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 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 to 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 environments that value and leverage the talents of everyone, paving the way for sustainable development.