Igniting the power of people to create a world of equality

“War doesn’t have a gender,” said Ukrainian Sniper Evgenya Emerald, when she was interviewed for a BBC story on female front-line soldiers last year. She went on to say that when a missile hits a house, everyone dies regardless of their gender or age – and that the same philosophy should prevail when defending your country.

It is a grim look at the meaning of ‘inclusion’ but a truthful one regardless. So in a world struggling to survive wars, climate crises and viruses, why haven’t we joined forces to fight a common cause: the survival and progress of the human race?

This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is Inspire Inclusion – aptly so for a cause that’s achieved much through the years but has a lot more ground to cover.

The fight for women’s equality has spilled over from women’s groups to organisations, schools, governments, international forums and even space, where women are defying gravity both literally and metaphorically.

Yet, when economic enhancement, scientific development and technological advancement are accelerating at breakneck speed, the pace of the equality movement is staggeringly slow in comparison.

But the good news is that we’re proudly celebrating women’s achievements like never before.

The pages in this year’s special edition are filled with boundary breaking women. We tell the stereotype shattering feats of women leaders in the local corporate sphere; unravel scientific discoveries that earned one Sri Lankan woman a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list; shine a light on a Sri Lankan actress who is trailblazing through Hollywood; and celebrate the scores of local sportswomen on the golf course, track and beyond.

Indeed, the progress is good… but not great.

It’s time to demand a speedier journey towards an inclusive world where women enjoy equality. It is time to go beyond highlighting women’s successes in the ‘female firsts’ frame and celebrate more world firsts like Ada Lovelace being the first computer programmer in the 1800s or Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour being the first to surpass the US$ 1 billion revenue mark last year.

Equality should be relevant everywhere; it must begin in every country, and in every government, organisation, school and family. It also must spark in the hearts and minds of every woman – and she must seek, find and share the inspiration to be included.

And it is time for women to stop being statistics and start becoming sacrosanct partners in a world of equality. It’s time to #inspireinclusion.

– Ruwandi Perera