On a study trip to New Zealand, the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus of Sri Lanka met Jacinda Ardern and Helen Clark, two former prime ministers of that country.
The Prime Ministers had extensive conversations about encouraging gender diversity and empowering women in politics, according to a statement.
From 2017 until 2023, Jacinda Ardern served as the prime minister of New Zealand. During that time, her country faced numerous political, economic, and infectious disease problems, including the Covid-19 epidemic.
It said issues like policies made to give opportunities for women who left the workforce to care for children to return to it, steps taken to create wage equality, paid parental leave in case of childbirth, lowering child poverty, etc. were brought to the attention of female lawmakers in particular.
The Caucus heard from Helen Clark, New Zealand’s first female prime minister, who also discussed her political career. She discussed the steps done during her administration to advance women’s rights, such as reforming civil marriage and urging women to put money aside for their retirement.
To welcome the Sri Lankan Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus, a cultural celebration was also planned in the name of the ‘Maori’ population in New Zealand.
