WiLAT Sri Lanka to launch UN Women’s ‘HeForShe’ campaign for women empowerment

Women in Logistics and Transport (WiLAT) was formed as a global forum in June 2013 to enhance women representation in Logistics and Transport industry by The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) UK. WiLAT Sri Lanka was one of the pioneering fora which was formed ahead of the global launch on 21 March 2013. 

In pursuing WiLAT Sri Lanka’s mission to empower women in Logistics and Transport, at the fourth year anniversary, WiLAT will partner with UN Women solidarity movement HeForShe initiative to provide an opportunity and framework for corporates in our industry to demonstrate leadership on gender equality.

“As per UN Women, men comprise 60% of the employed labour force and 95% of the CEOs of the world’s largest corporations are men. In Sri Lanka females outnumber males and accounts to 52% of the population. It is disheartening to note that female labour force takes a percentage of less than half of the male percentage and is at 36.2%. In the logistics and transport sector the female representation is abysmally low at 2.9%. With Sri Lanka moving towards an ageing society sitting next to the young man of the world, India, it is even more important to attract more females into the world of work. The achievement of gender equality requires an inclusive approach that recognises the crucial role of men and boys as partners for women’s rights. As such, we are inviting CEOs to lead by example through actions that demonstrably advance and empower women,” WiLAT Co-founder and Chairperson Gayani de Alwis said. Globally 1,416 CEOs have signed up as an expression of support for advancing equality between women and men to:

Bring the broadest pool of talent to our endeavours; 

Further our companies’ competitiveness; 

Meet our corporate responsibility and sustainability commitments; 

Model behaviour within our companies that reflects the society we would like for our employees, fellow citizens and families; 

Encourage economic and social conditions that provide opportunities for women and men; and 

Foster sustainable development in the countries in which we operate. 

In order to accelerate this initiative UN Women have launched 10X10X10 Impact pilot program engaging heads of states, universities and corporate leaders to lead by example globally. Unilever is one of the ten corporates who have pledged support for the Impact program and WiLAT is happy to have Unilever Chairman Carl Cruz as the Keynote speaker at WiLAT’s 4th anniversary and also signing the CEO statement at the official signing ceremony in line with Unilever global agenda. The event will be held on Monday 20 March, from 5 p.m. onwards at the Victorian hall of The Kingsbury Hotel, Colombo.

WiLATis inviting the corporate partners to support this endeavour by being part of this HeForShe initiative and signing the CEO’s commitment for women empowerment and joining the ever expanding global movement.