In pursuing WiLAT Sri Lanka’s mission to empower women in Logistics and Transport, at the fourth year anniversary celebrations of UN Women, the ‘HeForShe’ movement was partnered to provide an opportunity and framework for corporates to demonstrate leadership on gender equality.

‘HeForShe’ is a solidarity campaign for the advancement of women initiated by UN Women. Its goal is to achieve equality by encouraging men as agents of change and act against negative inequalities faced by women. 

Gender inequality is an issue that affects everyone, socially, economically and politically. IMPACT 10x10x10 engages key decision makers in governments, corporates, and universities around the world to drive change from the top. 

IMPACT Champions make gender equality an institutional priority by implementing the ‘HeForShe’ IMPACT framework and developing the game-changing commitments to advance and achieve gender equality for all. These leaders are committed to changing the world.

Accordingly, WiLAT Sri Lanka took the bold step in Sri Lanka by inviting 10 top corporates to sign up the CEO Statement of Support and make a pledge towards this cause.

As part of WiLAT Sri Lanka’s fifth year anniversary celebrations it was decided to conduct a survey among these corporates and they were invited to take part in the ‘HeForShe Awards Survey’ to analyse their initiatives in the work place towards gender equality. An independent panel of judges selected the organisations that in the view of the judges best demonstrates that its human resource functions are exceptionally committed to support gender equality and non-discrimination. The questions were based on areas of Recruitment and Retention, Work/Life Balance, Professional Development and Empowerment, Professional Conduct and Due Care, and Mentoring and Recognition.Best corporates which have contributed towards empowerment of women were recognised under the categories Platinum, Gold and Silver. 

The Platinum award was won by IMPACT Champion John Keells Holdings PLC, while Gold and Silver awards were won by Unilever Sri Lanka and McLarens Group respectively. The awards were presented by Kevin Byrne, President CILT International, who was the Chief Guest for the fifth anniversary celebrations.