International Women's Day panel: 'It's about giving women the tools to change their lives'

The Irish Examiner celebrated International Women's Day with an event that saw Sonya Lennon, Dr Manizha Khan and Deirdre Mortell talk to the issues that women face in Ireland today. Here, they tell Gemma Fullam how they are making change

Deirdre Mortell, Sonya Lennon and Dr Manizha Khan on International Women's Day

Several years ago, a friend brought me along to meet Amma, an Indian woman who, to date, has hugged 40 million people. I queued up like everyone else and was rewarded with a warm, enveloping embrace and whispered prayers in my ear. It was lovely. She sat there all day, hugging hundreds of people, giving the same energy and attention to each one. Her life is one radical act of generosity.

We can’t all go round hugging people, but we can put one truism front and centre in our lives: gains are to be found in giving, not receiving.