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AWAW
“Women Defining SecurityRealizing UNSCR 1325”
AWAW
9 Riverdale Road, Aniwatte
Kandy, Sri Lanka
Tel. +94 812 205725/ +94 813 840120
Fax +94 812 224098
Email: [email protected]
www.awawsl.org
FINAL REPORT
Organization Name:
Association of War Affected Women (AWAW)
Contact Person:
Visaka Dharmadasa
09 Riverdale Rd., Aniwatte, Kandy
Ph: 0094-81-2205725
Fax 0094-81-2224098
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.awawsl.org
Project Title:
Women Defining Security – Realizing UNSCR 1325
Reporting Period:
1st September 2013 to 30th October 2014
GOAL OF THE PROJECT
Enhance security for women and girls in post-war Sri Lanka
This report is in three sections
1. District workshops
2. Regional workshops
3. Advocacy and awareness campaign.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
During this project we held 15 district workshops,7 regional workshops and 4 university
workshops as well an Island wide Advocacy and Awareness raising campaign. We found that this
project participants mainly the law enforcement officials and health officials were very enthusiastic
to take part in the group discussions. Although we gave the liberty for them to select any pillar of
the UNSCR 4 pillars for the group work in vast majority cases women’s protection was selected as
the pillar to be addressed. The participants came from various back grounds, they were rural as
well urban individuals and represented many areas of the country. We are also happy to note that
the workshops were able to build bridges between government officials such as the police, health
and education as well social service sector and more importantly politicians for a better
coordination in addressing violence against women in the future, especially in preventing by way
of awareness raising and educating, as well helping women and girls who are victims, when the
affected women and girls are taken to hospitals for medical care and checks which is necessary for
legal action and also for sheltering victims.
1
We found the regional workshops very productive because of the fact that there were politicians
present who are able to address some of the challenges that the police faced in implementing their
duty properly. We must specially mention that not only women politicians, but men did listen to the
grievances of police very patiently and collectively. They undertook to implement some projects
under their supervision. We must specifically mention here that Devinuwara Pradeshiya Sabha’s
chairperson and the three other members were present at our Southern province regional
workshop. In fact they were collaborating with the Gandara Police station whereby letting the
police use their office equipment such as photocopy machines, computers etc, as well quarterly
sharing with the police the funds received from the provincial council through their fines.
Another area was prevalence of high child marriages in Uva province. On the request of the Police
of Siyambalanduwa Police station we were able to print 10000 leaflets to be distributed to police
stations in the area so that the police were able to distribute them among early teenage girl
children. Moreover, in central province we were able to meet the chief minister as a joint group
where several members of the civil society and politicians were present. . The chief minister will
convene a high level meeting to address violence against women in the province as well as he
showed his interest to support our advocacy campaign.
We were very glad to see how the participants in the North Central Province have taken an
initiative on the women’s day this year to curb violence against women. They shared their
experience, knowledge and the facts with us during the workshop using advanced technology in
producing a documentary. They also showed their keen interest to support the advocacy campaign.
In terms of the university workshops, we are extremely happy that we could take this message to a
group of young adults who represented all the geographical locations, ethnic groups and all
religions of the country. The issues were looked from different angles and perspectives. Especially
we were very lucky to have students from different disciplines such as Arts, Management, Law,
Humanities, Political Science, Psychology, Economics, Agriculture, Medicine and Media.
During our Peradeniya University workshop we were able conduct the group discussions based on
five scenarios and the group discussion were very interesting as real life incidents were discussed
under the given scenarios. The detailed narrative report will elaborate the scenarios discussed and
the group work charts in more detail. Moreover, we must also mention the contribution from the
Jayewardenepura University students who are studying Criminology. With their field experience in
prisons and with convicts they were able to put in very insightful details regarding the issues to the
discussions. Looking at these success stories and enthusiasm of participants, we believe that these
workshops will benefit thousands of women and girls, in the respective police areas and districts.
During this project the most wide spread activities were carried out through our advocacy and
awareness campaign where nearly two hundred thousand people were reached directly through
public meetings, posters, stickers and leaflets and many more through banners and children of all
ages through our essay and poster competition.. We were also able to reach all 431 police stations
in the country, where each and every one was given banners leaflets and posters. We were able to
gain support of all those who we had workshops with and carry out a very successful advocacy
campaign.
Special note: We are hoping to conduct a residential workshop with the students from the
Jayewardenepura University Criminology department to look in to further possibilities of
preventing violence and sexual abuse against women. The police have requested us to have music
therapy for their officials which we will be doing with the collaboration of University students
2
1. District Workshops
OBJECTIVES
1. To train local level law enforcement officials, civil security committee members,
health officials and representatives of the local clergy on UNSCR 1325 and 1820
with particular emphasis on women’s and girl’s security
2. To establish regional committees in order to build up a network with the trained
law enforcement officers, religious leaders and the health sector representatives to
ensure women’s security and safety
SIZE OF THE GROUP (S)
30 maximum for one workshop
PARTICIPANTS
 Police officers, civil defence force officials and security-related staff at the
community level
 Health Officers
 Relevant officials of the District secretariat
 Civil society and media (female and male)
 Religious representatives (Muslim, Hindu, etc.)
* The composition of participants in each workshop varied from district to district.
WORKSHOP DATES AND NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS
district
Dates
local level
law
Governmen
enforcement t officials
officials
Kegalle
25.09.2013
20
6
Matale
23.11.2013
32
8
N’eliya
25.11.2013
29
5
Kurunagala
30.11.2013
25
Puttalam
03.12.2013
29
5
2
27
9
36
Hambantota
06.12.2013
27
8
2
20
17
37
Matara
07.12.2013
26
6
20
12
32
Kaluthara
13.12.2013
22
10
18
14
32
Civil
society
and
media
Female
Male
3
19
10
29
20
20
40
1
28
7
35
3
26
2
28
Total
3
Galle
14.12.2013
22
7
1
22
8
30
Badulla
09.01.2014
26
4
-
18
12
30
Monaragala
10.01.2014
26
6
14
18
32
Rathnapura
17.01.2014
24
5
1
24
6
30
Kandy
18.01.2014
53
6
1
26
34
60
Gampha
23.01.2014
24
8
18
14
32
Colombo
24.01.2014
25
9
1
21
14
35
410
93
15
321
197
518
Total
PRE-EVALUATION
In every session a pre-evaluation probe took place in order to acquire a general idea of the
participants’ level of knowledge on the topics of the workshop. These were the common
findings of these pre-evaluations:
Number of participants who were aware about the United Nation’s security council
Resolution 1325
District
Kegalle
Kurunegala
Mathale
Nuwaraeliya
Yes/No
Number of
participants
Yes
2
No
27
Yes
1
No
27
Yes
4
No
36
Yes
3
Source of information for those aware of UNSCR
1325
Lectures, Paper articles
Training workshops
Books, Reviewing, News papers, Training programs
organized by the Ministry of Child Development and
Women's Affairs
Programs, lectures, Women Development Officers
training programs
4
Puttalam
Hambanthota
Mathara
Kaluthara
Galle
Badulla
Monaragala
Rathnapura
Kandy
Gampaha
Colombo
No
Yes
No
32
2
34
Yes
3
No
34
Yes
4
No
28
Yes
3
No
29
Yes
1
No
29
Paper articles, Training workshops
Workshops, Educational knowledge
From the Agency of Women of the Ministry of Child
Development and Women's Affairs, News papers
Workshops
Training programs
Yes
2
No
28
Yes
1
No
31
Yes
1
No
29
Yes
6
No
54
Yes
2
No
30
Yes
2
No
33
Ministry, Workshops
Mrs. Janaki Hemamala’s lectures
Workshops
Workshops/ Media/
Work shop
Workshops/ Media
What do you expect to gain by participating in this workshop? (Common findings)
The participants expressed interest in learning about the United Nations Security Council
Resolution 1325 in depth. They not only wanted to comprehend it in an embracing way but
also to use it as a framework in their professional sphere and to endorse it in their daily
lives. For instance the police officers showed willingness to be able to comprehend the
current problems that women face in their societies, and to be able to serve justice for
them, especially for those who have been affected by the war and violence. The participants
in general aimed to learn more about women’s rights and on how to voice the women’s
needs without fear. In a more general level, the participants were interested in knowing
how to achieve a more harmonious and peaceful society.
5
CONTENT
 Welcome and introduction
 Discussion on the current situation of the district
 Sri Lanka its political history and its Women
 Introduction of UNSCR 1325
 Interactive question and answer session
 Discussion on how UNSCR 1325 will influence your district
 Group activity on :
o How to implement UNSCR 1325
o What are the obstacles in implementing UNSCR 1325
 Further discussion on group activities and presentations high lighting the issue of
violence against women through the participants input on group work
DESCRIPTION OF WORKSHOPS
Introduction of the United Nations
 The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 after the
Second World War by 51 countries
 Their purpose is to maintain international peace and security, developing friendly
relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and
human rights
 There are 193 countries as members states
Main UN objectives
 To keep peace throughout the world
 Develop friendly relations among nations
 To help nations work together to improve the lives of poor people, to conquer
hunger, disease and illiteracy, and to encourage respect for each other’s rights and
freedoms
 To be a center for harmonizing the actions to achieve these goal
Introduction to the United Nations Security Council
 In charge of maintaining peace and security
 They have 15 members, 5 are permanent member and 10 are non-permanent
 The 5 permanent are: China, Russia, United States, France and United Kingdom.
They have “veto power” (if one votes against, the resolution won’t pass)
 The 10 non-permanent are elected by the General Assembly for a 2 years term. The
current ones are: Colombia, Germany, India, Portugal, South Africa, Azerbaijan,
Guatemala, Morocco, Pakistan and Togo
Duties of the UN Security Council
 Sustainable Peace
 Conflict prevention and resolution
 Peace building
6


Sustaining peace and security
Taking decisions on conflict prevention and peacemaking
Administrative structure of Sri Lanka
Executive
Legislative
Academia
Implementation Structures
Recipients
UN Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
 Background
 On October 31, 2000, the United Nations Security Council unanimously
adopted Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.
 On the face of it, this is just another Resolution, which may or may not be
implemented. But for women’s groups involved in Peace-building in war
zones worldwide, it is a historic statement, with significant implications.
 Who should take action?
 UN Security Council
 UN Secretary General
 Member States
 Non state actors
 Militias
 Humanitarian agencies
 Civil society
 The four pillars.
 Participation of Women in Decision Making and Peace Processes.
 Gender perspective and training in peace keeping.
 The protection of women.
7

Gender mainstreaming in United Nations reporting systems and
programmatic implementation mechanisms.
Political History of Sri Lanka and its women
Sri Lanka was colonized by Portuguese, Dutch and then the British for more than 400 years,
this country was initially divided to 3 administrative areas but later was further divided to
9 regions which make the current 9 provinces.
Sri Lankan males got their voting rights in 1925 but the women had to fight for their right
of voting and they were able to obtain their voting rights in 1931. The first women to enter
the legislative assembly was Lady Adlin Molamure, she was able to defeat 4 men and make
2 of them to lose their surety and become the first women to enter Sri Lankan legislative
assembly in November 1931. Sri Lanka was able to produce the first women to head a state
when Madam Sirimavo Bandaranayake became the country’s Head in 1961. Sri Lanka also
has had 5 married couples in the legislative assembly and has a legacy of daughters taking
up politics when their fathers die, or the wives when their husbands die. Currently Sri
Lankan women’s political representation is very low and it is important for all of us to work
towards increasing the numbers of women in all our political bodies.
GROUP ACTIVITIES
In every district a group activity took place. The amount of groups and members per group
was determined by the quantity and conformation of the present participants. All groups
had to discuss on of the 4 pillars of UNSCR 1325 and how they can fully implement it in
their area as well the Challenges in implementing the same.
Summary of Group work by pillars:
1. Participation of Women in Decision Making and Peace Processes.
Reasons for the decrease of women’s participation





Lack of education in some cases
Women being softer
Poverty
Religious and Cultural attitudes and practices
Lack of protection
Steps to be taken/Opportunities:
 Programs for the enhancement of knowledge and attitudes of women
 Make women aware from the grassroots level
 Make opportunities for women to be socialized
 Increase Women’s involvement in administration
8

Increase women participation in decision making by opening opportunities for them
in the society.
 Involve more women in national security
 Establishing a process to present women’s’ ideas, suggestions and problems from
family levels to the highest decision making levels and international levels
 Involve more women in decision making in institutional and field projects.
 Develop self esteem through training women in leadership and personality
development
 Empower women to take intelligence choices when voting
 providing counselling
Challenges:
 Cultural bonds
 Economical difficulties
 Social and political attitudes
 Women’s educational levels
 Responsibilities and bonds towards the family
 Religious impacts
 Women undermining their own abilities
 Language issues
 Lack of recourses
 Fear of going in front of law
 Society’s unwillingness to accept women’s ideas
 Limitation of women organizations
 Lack of appropriate plans
 Lack of resource persons
2. Gender perspective and training in peace keeping
Steps to be taken:
 Improving the quality of the job through developing knowledge
 Training officers for investigation
 Identifying perpetrators
 Making the officials aware that they should take special care for distressed women
and children.
 Pre and post war situations posses a greater risk for women and girls to be
trafficked the peace keepers have to be made aware on this situation so that extra
care can be arranged for women and girls
 Mediators/facilitators should work within their mandates.
 Trainings should be done with awareness of the socio cultural backgrounds of the
places that they will be posted
 Trainings- using art to be introduced to training of peace keepers.
 Providing a good understanding about social, economic, political and cultural
aspects of the conflict.
 Allow to express free ideas.
 Providing knowledge through dramas or films for the person who is trained.
9
 Request UN DPKO to allocate sufficient funds for training of peace keepers
Challenges:
 Cultural obstacles
 Hindrance from attitudes
 Problems occurring within the families
 Language difficulties (lack of English knowledge)
 Problems related to training
 Problems in workplaces
 Women have to work in several units and fields without being appointed to a
particular unit
 Unable to do investigation duties in a proper way due to rapid crime reporting
 Lack of officers
 Lack of transportation and other resources
 Cannot take actions regarding victims’ welfare
3. The protection of women
Issues:
 Lack of protection when travelling in public transport
 Sexual harassments faced by school girls by school van drivers.
 Domestic violence
 Incest is prevalent in families where mother is abroad
 Problems arising by misusing technology (Mobile phones, computers ...etc.).
 When women are abroad, their children are insecure.
 Tuition classes, where girl children are kept till late.
 Not being strict in law enforcement.
 Changing educational styles.
 Low attention for religious activities.
Steps to be taken:
 Increasing men’s participation in awareness workshops related to women’s security
 Promoting self-employment to reduce women working abroad ensuring children’s
safety
 Promoting a religious and cultural practices within the home environment
 Respecting women’s ideas and identifying women’s needs
 Take necessary actions to control alcohol and enhance laws for those who run
lodges.
 Raise public awareness of violence against women
 Increase punishments for perpetrators of violence against women.
 directing women who face abuse and violence to appropriate officers (police, family
health officers)
 Enhance awareness about
 Violence against women
 Reducing domestic violence
 Unprotected Places
10













 Laws for women violence, expulsion
 Problems arising due to women going abroad to work
 Rights and privileges
Enhance awareness through leaflets, posters, banners
Use of media to publicize the issues that women face regarding their security and
safety
Concentrating about religious activities.
Provide awareness through the schools, including awareness of women’s protection
to the curriculum
Enhance sanitation facilities for women in public, government and private places.
Legal proceedings on cases on violence and sexual abuse to be fast tracked.
Get details and conduct awareness programs about harassments (maintain school
complain boxes, civil security committee, anonymous petition)
Take necessary actions to provide shelters to affected women
Organize mentality improving workshops and counselling program
Establishing mixed schools
Creating a security laws in institutions that women work
Providing special facilities to women in working places
Maintaining the confidentiality of women who are providing information
Challenges:
 Teachers’ unwillingness to provide proper sex education
 Economical difficulties
 Introversion
 Lack of resource persons
 Migration
 Less attendance of men for awareness programs
 Lack of new amendments for out dated laws.
 Do not receive medical reports in time, suspects avoid court.
 Increase in women going abroad to work as domestics due to economic problems.
 Lack of resources and man power in the police women’s desks
 Political influences
 Different attitudes in the society
 No provisions to improve awareness
 Negative attitudes
 Lack of protection at workplace
 Less places for safety and protection of elderly women
4. Gender mainstreaming in United Nations reporting systems
Steps to be taken:
 Establishing a committee that includes both government and non government
officials
 Identifying women leaders and direct them to the field work
11




Collecting, analysing and summarizing data
o How they faced the violent activities?
o How did others feel about it?
o What are the causalities and damages?
Challenges:
Fear and unwillingness to provide information
Political influence and mediation
Poor maintenance of confidentiality of information
Group Work Chart
Kegalle
Participation
of Women in
Decision
Making and
Peace
Processes
1
Gender
Gender
mainstreaming
The
perspective
in United
protection
and training in
Nations
of women
peace keeping
reporting
systems
1
2 -
Kurunegala
-
-
Mathale
-
Nuwaraeliya
-
District
4 1
3 -
-
4 -
Puttalam
1 -
3 -
Hamabanthota
1 -
2
Mathara
-
Kaluthara
Galle
-
4 -
1 -
3 -
-
4 -
-
Badulla
1
3 -
Monaragala
-
1
3 -
Rathnapura
-
1
3 -
Kandy
Gampha
Colombo
Total in %
1
1 -
3 -
1 1 13.30%
3 3 78.30%
6.66%
1.66%
12
Pre and Post evaluation
Number of participants who were aware about the United Nation’s
security council Resolution 1325
District
Kegalle
Kurunegala
Mathale
Nuwaraeliya
Puttalam
Hambanthota
Mathara
Kaluthara
Galle
Badulla
Monaragala
Rathnapura
Kandy
Gampaha
Colombo
Yes/No
Before the
workshop
After the workshop
Yes
2
29
No
27
-
Yes
1
28
No
27
-
Yes
4
40
No
36
-
Yes
3
35
No
32
-
Yes
2
36
No
34
-
Yes
3
37
No
34
-
Yes
4
32
No
28
-
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
3
29
1
29
32
30
-
2
28
1
31
1
29
6
30
32
30
-
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
54
2
30
2
33
60
32
35
-
13
Post Evaluation
The subjects that the participants gained knowledge mostly
District
1325
Political
History
Both 1325 and
political History
Peace
Kegalle
13
11
2
3
kurunegala
19
1
8
-
Mathale
28
6
2
4
Nuwaraeliya
31
3
1
-
Puttalam
25
3
6
2
Hambanthota
21
6
8
2
Mathara
21
2
9
-
Kaluthara
Galle
Badulla
Monaragala
Rathnapura
Kandy
Gampha
Colombo
18
19
18
24
23
51
22
26
3
2
2
1
3
4
3
1
9
8
2
4
3
3
4
3
2
1
8
3
1
2
1
-
Special note:
 When the groups work was presented, we were able to discuss the issues of UNSCR
1820 most specifically about sexually abuse of not only women and girls but also
men and boys. Normally in a society as ours we do not discuss these matters even
within families but this workshop created the spaces for all to speak very openly
about the challenging issues they face in their day to day work as law enforcement
officials, health sector officials, government servants and also as civil society and
most importantly as aware citizens who want to take some action to make our
society safe and secure for our women, men, girls and boys
14
Photographs- The district workshops
2. Regional Workshops
OBJECTIVE
Build coalitions among the participants from each region and the local level politicians as well to
increase the knowledge of the politicians of the issue.
SIZE OF THE GROUP (S)
15 maximum for one workshop
PARTICIPANTS
 Politicians of the region
 Police officers, civil defense force officials and security-related staff at the community level
 Health Officers
 Relevant officials of the District secretariat
 Civil society and media (female and male)
 Religious representatives (Muslim, Hindu, etc.)
* The composition of participants in each workshop varied from province to province.
15
WORKSHOP DATES AND NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS
Province Dates
local
level law
enforcem
ent
officials
Sabaragam
13.02.14
uwa
Governm
ent
Politician 1325
officials s
Team
Female
Total
Male
10
4
5
2
13
8
21
Uve
30.04.14
5
5
7
1
5
13
18
Central
27.05.14
7
1
9
1
12
6
18
Southern
North
Western
30.05.14
2
1
9
2
3
11
14
03.05.14
13
3
3
2
16
5
21
Western
North
Central
05.05.14
8
4
2
1
8
7
15
10
8
18
67
58
125
26.05.14
-
18 -
45
Total
36
-
35
9
CONTENT






Welcome and Introduction
Documentary Film
Reflections and current situation in the area
Discussion on the progress of district workshops in regards to women, peace and
security
What are the challengers they faced when implementing the UNSCR 1325?
How to overcome those challengers
DESCRIPTION OF WORKSHOPS
GROUP ACTIVITIES
Summary of Group work in the regional workshops: Each province had their specific issues
which were highlighted and solutions were suggested. In some provinces proper action plans were
drawn and the responsibility was taken by the participants to implement them.
SABARAGAMUWA PROVINCE
In the beginning of the workshop the participants were given the chance to give a short
introduction about women’s situation in each district.Following challengers were discussed
which they have to face in their day to day working life.


Lack of resources.
Lack of cooperation within the organizations.
16



Problems associated with the child and women bureau (the guardian (mother) and
children cannot stay together since there is not enough protection in the center)
Issues that has occurred because of giving license to the guest houses
Lack of transportation during official duties
Proposals suggested by the politicians.




Meet the provincial chief minister and explain the issues
Conduct these kinds of workshops in the provincial council
Develop a network
They should meet at least every three months to discuss about these issues
Steps to be taken
 Agreeing to conduct joint arrests and raid guest houses.
Special note:
Police officers mentioned that they are providing their service in the mid of difficulties
such as lack of office equipments and stationery. If they have proper facilities and
resources they will be able to provide better services. Moreover, the local government
politicians mentioned that police is bringing in a large sum of money to the government by
way of fines and a portion should be allocated to make their official duty easier.
UVA PROVINCE
Underage marriages and unwanted pregnancy
Problems:










Within the urban environment
Private tutoring
Idling youth groups,
Unwanted usage of new technology
New fashion
Insecure housing
Bad influence through media
Drug usage
Lack of knowledge on birth control and family planning
Lack of social understanding
 Within the rural environment

Lack of social knowledge
17


Children being isolated due to parents’ involvement in chena cultivation
Sexual imitation by children because of the lack of privacy within homes they all life
in one room
 Child labor
 Lack of parent’s affection (family problems, domestic violence, and alcoholism)
 Parents’ attitudes
Solutions and proposed suggestions









Awareness programs
Life skills training
Enforcement of the law
Changing attitudes through counseling, and brainstorming
Child protection
Sex Education
Knowledge about proper usage of technology
Providing knowledge about laws to the entire society
Creating a proper family institution through awareness
NORTH WESTERN PROVINCE
Objective:
Reducing violence against women and child abuse
Activities:
Activities proposed to reduce violence against women and child abuse include;






Primary discussions with the relevant parties
Research
Identifying the problem
Discussion about steps to be taken and proposals
Taking the necessary steps to reduce violence against women and child abuse
Post- evaluation and observation
Relevant parties.
 Divisional secretariat’s office – social service officers, women development
officers, child rights promoting officers, development officers, foreign employment
promoting officers, grama niladhari, Samurdhi development officers, economic
development officer, Buddhist smayojaka, sports officers, counseling officers
 Police department- Women and children bureau, environment unit, civil security
committee, community police unit
 Local government- child development officers, community development officers,
development officers
18
 Regional health institutions- public health inspector, family health officer,
psychological doctor
 Probation department- probation officers
 Regional and zonal education offices- School Principles, counseling teachers
 Non government organizations – association of War Affected Women, World
Vision, Sarwodaya, women’s board, elders associations, youth organizations, threewheeler societies, school van transportation association, day care center, preschool teachers board
 Religious councils (Different religions) - Sunday schools, Tutoring classes
Prospective work plans:
Suggestions:
1. Forming a committee: (police, divisional secretariat’s office, local government, health,
religious, educations, civil society and probation officers)
2. Conducting a research
3. Planning future work according to the research results
Activities:
1. Identifying an area with most amount of issues
2. Identifying the problems through research and categorizing them
3. Direct the categorized problems to the relevant parties
4. Actions to be taken where necessary
5. Monitoring and Evaluation
WESTERN PROVINCE
Suggestions to eliminate violence against women:






Women and Child Bureau’s officers’ duty should be limited only to the relevant area
of work.
Providing sufficient resources and making the work effective
Officers of the Divisional secretariats to work in collaboration
Conduct trainings for law enforcement officials.
Inform about newly released acts and amendments and proper implementation of
laws
Use media to broadcast about violence against women to the public
19



Inform the public about the adverse effects of internet and mobile phones misuse.
Create women and child friendly bureaus in the department of Police
Awareness programs from the grass root level (school, parents, religious places,
other social organizations such as women org., elderly org., civil security
committees, police, health service officers, education , Divisional Secretariats,
cultural , resource persons, politicians and other relevant parties’ service)
CENTRAL PROVINCE
Steps to be taken










Providing sufficient parent’s affection to children
Providing education for women
Raising awareness about protection of women through women organizations
Providing legal protection to women
Economic empowerment
More opportunities for women in decision making process
Protecting women’s rights
Enforce women’s protection through relevant organizations and bureaus (Children
and women bureaus, Divisional Secretariats, women’s societies,)
Establishing a divisional level training pool to raise awareness
Establishing Children and women bureaus to cover Divisional Secretariats divisions
Challenges







Domestic violence
Widows are not getting the proper place in the society
Lack of awareness among women
Lack of government policies that are sensitive to women’s’ issues
Lack of economic empowerment for women
Religious leaders are not doing their duty properly
Difficulties in changing attitudes
SOUTHERN PROVINCE
Issues






Children not going to school (economic difficulties)
Around 20 complaints are received by the police daily (family problems, land
issues)
Political pressure
Lack of transportation facilities
High level of alcoholism in fishing villages
Lack of police officers to implement the duties properly
20
Steps to be taken


Taking necessary steps to send children to schools
Changing the attitudes of the public
NORTH CENTRAL PROVINCE
Issues:


High level alcoholism was prevalent in this province among both men and women
Underage marriages
Steps to be taken:

Localized manual to disseminate UNSCR 1325 to be prepared.
Special Note:
Mahaweli Development Scheme is the biggest development scheme in Sri Lanka which covers half
of the land of the country and all three communities, Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims are living
within the various systems. This scheme has a sub culture system with a greater autonomy within
the system. We were able to cover participants from this region during our last regional workshop
in the North Central province.
Photographs- The regional workshops
21
University Workshops
OBJECTIVE- THE UNIVERSITY WORKSHOPS
To train university students on UNSCR 1325 and 1820 with particular emphasis on
women’s and girl’s security
SIZE OF THE GROUP (S)
30 maximum for one workshop
PARTICIPANTS
 University Students
* The composition of participants in each workshop varied from university to university.
WORKSHOP DATES AND NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS
UniversityDates
Man
age
Arts
Law Media Med
men
t
Eastern 04.03. 20144
Jaffna
28.03. 20145
Peradeni
23.04. 20144
ya
24.04.201
Jayaward
4
anapura
TOTAL
5
1
Politica
Polit
Humani
Geo
l
Psych Crimin
Mark
Femal
ical
Econ Agri
ties &
Male
Total
gra
Drama
ology ology
eting
e
Sc.
Soc.Sc
phy
&Theat
r
2
1
6
1
5
3
1
2
6
3
7
6
9
11
20
28
13
5 26
1
3
1
5
2
4
6
10
1
28
14
1
6
21
17
30
28
24
24
15
29
34
77
PRE-EVALUATION
Number of participants who were aware about the United Nation’s security council
Resolution 1325
District
Number of
Source of information for those aware
Yes/No
participants
of UNSCR 1325
Yes
2
Eastern University
News paper, work shop
No
28
Yes
10
Jaffna University
Via internet and books
No
18
Peradeniya
university
Yes
5
No
19
Jayewardenepura
university
Yes
1
No
28
University human rights course, senior
university students, internet and books
Classroom
22
111
What do you expect to gain by participating in this workshop? (Common findings)
The participants expected to develop their communication skills and improve their
knowledge on UNSCR 1325.They were also interested in improving their knowledge on
women and children’s rights and their security. The students also showed their interest to
increase women participation in politics and in decision making. The participants in
general aimed to learn more about women’s rights, develop their own leadership qualities
and how they can contribute to empower women in the country to solve the problems
within the country.
CONTENT







Welcome and introduction
Peace-building, the UN and UNSCR1325
Documentary film screening
Reflections
Exploring local possibilities – group activity
Reporting and discussion
Exploring future possibilities
DESCRIPTION OF WORKSHOP: Peradeniya University - Scenarios.
Following scenarios were discussed among the participants’ groups in Peradeniya University.
1. Land being lost to development (both in the North and South)
2. Disappearances as an issue common to communities
3. Displacement and then return and rehabilitation (distribution of economic goods and
opportunities)
4. Use of the official language (difficulty in accessing information and documentation)
5. Tensions between religious communities (say over the construction of a mosque or one
traders' association objecting to persons of another community starting businesses in a
particular locality
1. Land being lost to development (both in the North and South)
After three decade long war things are becoming a bit calmer and the villages are
slowly being normalized. People who came back after multiple displacement are happy that
now they are able to cultivate their lands and live a normal life. But the recent
announcements that their land will be taken for development has brought back the tension.
The situation is not only for those who came back after years to Valikaman north in Jaffna
but for those who survived Tsunami in Panama though these two villages are hundreds of
miles away both face the same threat to their land. The land is being taken for development
by the government. The main income of both the villages is cultivation and if the land is
gone then how are they going to live? What are they going to do no? What are the solutions
they have? Whom they can tell their issue? Who can help them?
23
2. Disappearances as an issue common to communities
Sri Lanka has undergone spates of disappearances in 1971, 1988 and 1989 and most
recently during and after the 30 year long war. This is a common serious issue faced by
communities where ever they are living in this country, be it in the north east south or west
communities are forced to undergo this situation. Though couples of commissions were
established by the government up to now they have not being able to put a stop to this
grave crime. Sri Lanka is one of the countries in the world which has highest number of
involuntary disappearances, we once faced green pajero syndrome and now it is white van,
when will this end? What can the people do about this? When will the families know the
fate of their loved ones? Most importantly when will Sri Lanka see and end to this grave
crime?
3. Displacement and then return and rehabilitation (distribution of economic goods
and opportunities)
People of the north and east of this country have undergone multiple displacements during
the three decades. Not only they were displaced internally, but also they were refugees in
other countries. The final stage of the war made more than two hundred and ninety
thousand people displaced in a matter of two weeks. Which was one of the biggest
displacements in this country or for that matter in any part of the world for that short
period? After the war ended people started to return and resettle, but there are still serious
issues on their land ownership, as well their livelihoods. What could have been done
better? Was the resettlement done according to a plan or was it ad-hoc? What can we do
now top bring normalcy to these former war torn areas?
4. Use of the official language (difficulty in accessing information and
documentation)
The language policy for Sri Lanka was introduced in 1959 this very same policy was
instrumental in pushing this country for a three decade long war. A woman in Kytes is
unable to go to the local police station and make a complaint in her own language she has
to sign in a document that she is unable to read. Not only the police stations, the simple
things like filling the bank money withdrawal form is a challenge for those who do not read
Sinhala or English. Courts is another critical area which people need to understand and
able to speak in their own language but these facilities area not available for both
communities in the areas where the majority is another community. Why is it important to
fully implement the language policy? What are the actions to be taken to address this issue?
5. Tensions between religious communities (say over the construction of a mosque
or one traders' association objecting to persons of another community starting
businesses in a particular locality
People of one village were living for years not even knowing that there was a mosque
within very close proximity to the temple. There was no interference from one group of
people to the other. They live in harmony for generations. Recently there was an attempt to
renovate the mosque and the chief priest of the temple objected. This tension grew into a
24
very ugly situation, and the mosque renovation stopped. Now the road is being widened
particularly in a limited area and couple of houses was broken and the mosque also is in
the area which has to be broken for the road expansion. Tensions among the two religious
groups are very high and the friendships that they had for years are shattered. What can be
done to bring back normalcy? How can both groups live in harmony again?
GROUP ACTIVITIES
In every university a group activity took place. The amount of groups and members per
group was determined by the quantity and conformation of the present participants.
All groups in Eastern, Jaffna and Jayewardenepura universities had to discuss on the 4
pillars of UNSCR 1325 and how they can fully implement it in their area as well the
Challenges in implementing the same. Groups in Peradeniya University had to discuss on
five scenarios mentioned above.
SUMMARY OF THE GROUP WORK BY PILLARS
1. Participation of Women in Decision Making and Peace Processes.
Challenges
 Women leadership is not accepted among both parties, male and female
 Cultural obstacles (all ethnic groups)
Steps to be taken:
 Taking necessary steps to create a free environment for women (family and
society)
 Providing political knowledge (workshops and lectures)
 Influential women’s guidance
 Increasing political participation
 Amendments to the law
 Increasing women’s organizations
 Providing security to women who are involved in politics
 Increasing women’s contribution in school counselling committees
 Establishing organizations that will provide awareness raising to women
 Include women decision making process in to the school syllabus
 Increasing women participation in all sectors
 Increase women participation in the economic sector
- Prioritizing estate peoples’ needs and attempting to reduce their economic
conditions
 Reduce income gaps
 Changing society’s attitudes
 Increasing women participation in development process (in rebuilding process)
 Drafting and implementing new policies where by women are benefited
 Increase political participation through laws
 Provide opportunities to empower women
25
2. The protection of women
Challenges
 Unwillingness to accept new ideas
 Unwanted political mediation
 Limited to short term strategies
 Focused on one problem when there are several issues
 Lack of communication facilities
 Lack of financial aid
 The influence towards the western culture
 Court cases take very long time to be heard
 Inability to raise awareness about women among rural population
 Inability to change peoples’ attitudes easily
 Women working against women
 Violence against women
 Lack of equality
 Mental and physical weakness in facing challenges due to 30 years of war
 Undermining women’s decisions
 Patriarchy
 Lack of security
Steps to be taken:
 Should conduct workshops from school level about protection of women
 Provide self defence training for women
 Develop self confidence and skills
 Pay attention to the needs of women in refugee camps and in homes
 Proper procedures for employed persons
 Procedures for children’s safety to be established and implemented
 Improve self-employment
 Involve women when planning and preparing laws pertinent to their protection
 Women friendly work time frames
 Provide relief and aid to women who were victimized
 Raising awareness among men
 Provide sex education
 People should decide the investigation committee and women’s participation should
be increased in the committee
 Verify and improve security of women in police stations
26
GROUP WORK CHARTS: COLOMBO UNIVERSITY
Group 1
Do women in Sri Lanka have problems related to protection/security?
 Political
 Social
 Economical
 Cultural
Self
Society
 Religious
 Family
 Health
 Educational
Perpetrator
 Legal
Criminal
acts
Environment
Victim
Male/female society
and situation and
responsibilities









Proper socialization
Drafting of laws
Radicalization of ideas
New educational reforms
Fair labour participation
Establishing a new political culture
Developing self confidence and personality
Awareness about human rights
Developing mental and physical strength
Male/female society
Group 02
Problems that the Sri Lankan women are facing currently:
 Domestic violence
 Economic difficulties
27






Rape and sexual violence
Trafficking
Problems in the existing law
Lack of security at home, workplace and transport
Problems faced in foreign countries
Issues within the IDP camps
Solutions
 Awareness raising (counselling, lectures in schools)
 Government taking actions to reduce unemployment
 Reducing insecurity through police checkpoints, street lights, and decency
 Media should be monitored
 Placement and training of Women and Children bureau officers
 Increasing women’s participation in drafting laws
 Prohibiting illegal job agencies
Group 03
Are you satisfied about current women participation?
Political participation
 Prioritizing women during electoral nominations ( a quota system)
 Attempts to diminish misconceptions, cultural views about gender
Education
 Although women participation in this sector is high, there is a difference in
rural areas
 Developing rural infrastructure
 Making parents aware about the importance of education
Job sector
 When looking at the current status there is a high women’s participation in
the job sector
Economic sector
 Women are earning a larger part of the foreign exchange
 Gross Domestic Product– women contribution is higher in the service sector
Security sector
 We can see a decrease in women participation in this sector
 Should involve women in peace keeping
Group 4
Are you satisfied with the women’s participation?





Satisfied with women’s participation
Women’s participation is higher in the education sector
In income generation such as foreign employment , garment industry and
plantations women are more
Women representation is sufficient in sports, aesthetic and arts sectors
Can see a satisfactory participation in the political sector
28
SUMMARY OF THE GROUP WORK (SCENARIOS): PERADENIYA UNIVERSITY
Group Work Charts:
Group 01
29
Group 02
STRATEGIES
1. Peaceful protest
2. Identification of groups and their potentials
-women
-children
classification according to capabilities
-men
Educated
Raising awareness
- Family members
- Media, NGO, activists, lawyers
Skill level
- Public speakers
- Reputed city members (Religious and academics)
- Providing food for the protesters and other needs
- Funding – tills and associations
BARRIERS
1. Police
2. Cultural stereotypes
3. Politicians
4. Powerful people in the village or city
5. Balancing the role in the family (mother. wife)
HOW TO OVERCOME
1. Encourage co-operation of males
2. Police
- Non violent protest without disturbing law and order
- Majority women participation
- Permission (legal sought first)
3. Politicians
- Using the voting rights as a threat
- Cooperation with opposition, HRC etc.
ADVANTAGES
1. Biological factors/cultural perceptions
-Lack of female police officers
2. Using sentimentality as a weapon
- Crying
- Pregnant women, disables and children
SKILLS
1. Awareness
2. Personality development
- Inferiority concept – value of womanhood
3. Public speaking skills
30
Group 03
PUBLIC INSTITUTION
An employee who belong to a minority community
1
 Identify affected
people
 Establish a new
association
 Expose objectives
to emphasize the
language rights
 Build self
confidence to
overcome these
issues
 Help the people
through
association
2
 Social phenomenon
about women
 Change cultural
dimension
 Security
 Political power
 Lack of self confidence
 Lack of resources
3
 Change the attitudes
of society
 Change socialization
process
 Law enforcement
 Participating for the
policy making
4
 Gender equality
 Can participate
in policy
making
 Deduction of
crimes
 Entire society
will function
well
31
Group 04
Example: Rathupaswala drinking water dispute in 2013
STRATEGIES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
BARRIERS
Women could get together
1. Women associations –not willing to
Rights (clean water)
Complain to municipal council or
communicate with legal authority
Bring this issue before CEA
Write articles to newspapers or
create posters
Media (live programs)
Obtain political support
2.
Raising awareness
DISTINCT QULITIES THAT WOMEN HAD
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
take part
Building leadership- thinking
themselves as inferior
Men- not allowing to raise their voice
Poorly educated
Society (opinions)
fear of people (The benefits from the
factory – employment opportunities)
Political pressure
Economic difficulties
Time management
OVERCOMING FROM BARRIERS
1. Women are sociable person
2. Patience
3. Reasonable thinking without getting
1. Make women aware about their
4. Majority- victims
5. Benefits
- gender equality
- respect
- decision making
- self satisfaction
- develop in socialization
3. Create a influential foundation to
angry
rights
2. Develop and build confidence that
women can do anything
associations
4. Change attitudes- women as inferior
5. Leadership skills
6. Change society’s perceptions
“feminism”, “oppressing women”
process
32
GROUP 05
Matter
Centre
Provincial council
Water Dispute
13th Amendment
Strategy
Goal
Barriers
STOP
All women (Provincial
council members)
Household works for a day (washing,
cleaning)
Pressurize relevant authorities to take immediate
action to overcome the dispute
Affecting
Overcoming Barriers
1. Family members (children, husband)
2. Social response (blaming, laughing)
3. Security (thugs)
1. Self management
2. Self confidence
Distinct advantage of Act
Women also can
effectively intervene to
make changes towards
public issues
There is no way to PEACE, PEACE is the way
33
GROUP WORK CHART
PRE AND POST EVALUVATION
Number of participants who were aware about the United Nation’s security council Resolution
1325
University
Eastern
Jaffna
Peradeniya
Jayewardenepura
Yes/No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Before the workshop
2
28
10
18
5
19
1
28
After the workshop
30
28
24
29
-
POST EVALUVATION
The subjects that the participants gained knowledge mostly
University
Eastern university
Jaffna university
Peradeniya university
Jayewardenepura university
1325
28
28
24
29
Peace
2
-
34
Special note:
 When evaluation the group work we were able to discuss the issues of UNSCR 1820
most specifically about sexually abuse of not only women and girls but also men and
boys. Normally in a society as ours we do not discuss these matters even within
families but this workshop created the spaces for all to speak very openly about the
challenging issues they face in their day to day work as law enforcement officials,
health sector officials, government servants and also as civil society and most
importantly as aware citizens who want to take some action to make our society
safe and secure for our women, men, girls and boys.
Photographs- The University workshops
3. Advocacy and awareness campaign.
During the period we were able to hold a workshop for 35 women development offices of the central
province as well the most wide spread activities were carried out through our advocacy and awareness
campaign where nearly two hundred thousand people were reached directly through public meetings,
posters, stickers and leaflets and many more through banners and children of all ages through our essay
and poster competition.. We were also able to reach all 431 police stations in the country, where each
and every one was given banners leaflets and posters. We were able to gain support of all those who we
had workshops with and carry out a very successful advocacy campaign.
35
List of activities:
1. Workshop for the women development officers of Kandy District on UNSCR 1325.
We were invited by the Chief women’s development officer of the Kandy District to conduct a
workshop on UNSCR 1325 similar to the one we did for the police officers, 35 women
development officers were present from the district covering all the divisional secretary
divisions after the workshop we were able to distribute posters and banners for them to put up
in their respective divisional secretariats.
2. Planning meetings:
We held 9 planning meetings in various parts of the country with various actors who were
cooperating in carryout the advocacy campaign. There were approximately 15 –
20 participates for each meeting where key decisions were made on
a) what will be the main items of the campaign
b) who else we will approach in order to get
their support
c) who will do what.
Final planning meeting was held with all
groups, such as women politicians, members
of TEAM 1325, civil society actors mainly men
who were public servants, police officers and
university students, where we finalized the
activities and venues.
36
3. Social Media reach:
The students of Peradeniya University did create a face book page ” Promoting humanity”
throughout the campaign.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006762435222
4. Essay and poster competition:
We held and Island wide essay and poster competition for school children for three weeks in
August/September on the age categories of 6 – 8, 9 – 14, and 15 – 18 and received a total of
323 essays and 243 posters from all over the Island, this was done in both Sinhala and Tamil
languages. The theme was “Let’s protect our childhood” The judges were school principals and
teachers and we selected 3 each from all the age and language categories and the prizes were
distributed at a big conference in Kandy and in Jaffna at Walikaman West Pradeshiya sabha. We
were very happy as well thrilled since Sri Lankan police took a great interest in it and publicized
the call for essays and posters in their respective police stations as well since we started it
during school holidays by advertising in children’s news papers took the advertisement to the
children of not only schools but to the centers where there were minor offenders were kept,
this was a very special eye opener for us as we didn’t envisage reaching that category of children
who needs to be engaged in order for them to be rehabilitated successfully. We were also
touched by some school teachers, preschool teachers and police officers who collected essays
and posters and posted them to us. Walikman West Pradeshiya Sabha members also took great
pains to collect all the posters and essays and send them to us as well organizing a special event
for the distribution of prizes to the winners. The prizes included dictionaries, story books; poster
colors crayon boxes as well mathematical instrument boxes and cash. All those who participated
got certificates for their participation.
37
“Let’s Protect Our Childhood”- Essay and Poster Competition
The Association of War Affected Women has organized an island wide advocacy campaign,
“Let’s Unite to Ensure a Secure Tomorrow for Her” and under this we have organized an
essay and poster competition themed “Let’s Protect Our Childhood”.
Theme: “Let’s Protect Our Childhood”.
Age Group
Essay (Sinhala/Tamil)
Age 6-8
100 Words
Age 9-14
250 Words
Age 15-18
500 Words
Any medium can be used for the posters (18’ x 14’)
Send your essays and posters before September 10th (including full name, address, school,
birthday and the telephone number) to the below address. Selected posters and essays will
be awarded with gifts and certificates and will also be displayed during an exhibition.
ASSOCIATION OF WAR AFFECTED WOMEN
09, Riverdale Road, Anniewatta, Kandy, Sri Lanka
38
Some of the selected posters are;
Let’s Protect Our Childhood
39
Is this my childhood?
40
Enemies are in all four directions my son !
Banners, posters, leaflets and stickers;
We had 4 planning meetings in Kandy and Colombo to design the poster, banners and stickier,
the participants for these meetings were men and women who participated in our regional
meetings, TEAM 1325 , AWAW board as well university students from Sri Jayawarndenapura and
Peradeniya. We are very happy to note that the students of Peradeniya University drafted a very
valuable leaflet with all necessary legal articles and phone numbers that one could use in cases
of harassment. The other leaflet was designed by a police officer who gave very important
information for children special girl child on their protection. The overall theme was “Let’s unite
to ensure a secure tomorrow for Her” and the banners and posters depicted a women from our
legend of “A women adorned with jewels carrying a Blue Sapphire in hand walked from the
southern tip of the Island to the northern tip of the Island alone and she was safe to do so in the
golden era of Sri Lanka, where it was peace and prosperous.” The stickers were designed by
students of Sri Jayawardena pura as well we selected a poster in the 6-8 age category for the
first place and that was turned to a sticker for school vans and busses. All these were produced
in both vernacular languages. We feel that this project has brought qualitative as well
41
quantitative results for us since we were able to secure the participation of children as early as 6
years to 80 years elderly persons both women and girls and men and boys of all professions
ethnicities and religions as well demographical regions of the country.
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43
Banners and posters as below
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Stickers for public transport and school vans/buses
I am a good daughter to my mother
a good wife to husband
a good mother to my child
but for you?
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5. Distribution of Banners, posters, leaflets and stickers to police stations:
We are extremely happy to note that we were able to reach all 431 police stations in the
country by distributing banners, posters, leaflets and stickers. We personally reached all 43
police women and children bureaus in the country to hand over the banners, posters, leaflets
and stickers to the 431 police stations under each of the bureau. We were warmly welcomed by
the police and in most cases the senior most officers met us and were very happy to put the
banner in their premises. The officer in charge of the women and children bureau under took to
hand over the materials to all police stations within their divisions as well the stations in return
will convene three wheeler drivers and school van drivers to make them aware and hand over
stickers. They also will visit schools and hand over posters to be displayed at the school notice
board and will use posters and leaflets to educate and make the school children aware.
They will have special functions for the day of the child and we handed books and stationery for
the children of Mannar division in the Northern Province as well for girls in Rathnapura district
to celebrate the day of Girl child. We have agreed to arrange music therapy to the police officers
both men and women of Kagalle police division which will be done by the youth of the students
of Sri Jayawardenapura University.
6. Distribution of Banners, posters, leaflets and stickers by local politicians and TEAM 1325:
Local politicians from various parts of the country arranged their own campaigns to distribute
posters and leaflets as well paste stickers in three wheelers. They also will arrange their own
meetings. Our TEAM 1325 members also have visited meetings of women development officials
in Anuradhapura and have distributed posters and leaflets, also in Kandy we met all the women
development officials of Central province and handed over leaflets and –posters.
1) Special meetings were arranged in Rathnapura together with the district secretariat had two
items lined
a) Distribution of posters and leaflets among school children and general public
b) Awareness raising for women’s groups on GBV
2)
In Anuradhapura posters and leaflets were distributed among the women
development
officials and other public servants of the ministry of women’s affairs after a briefing on GB V
during a meeting
3)
In Kamburupitiya women politicians distributed posters and leaflets and pasted stickers in
three wheelers
Women politicians in Tissamaharama convened a special meeting to make the women of
grassroots aware and distributed leaflets, stickers and posters
Police women and children desks in many parts of the Island convened school van drivers
and three wheel drivers and after an awareness raising distributed the stickers.
4)
5)
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7. Official launch of the advocacy campaign:
To mark the beginning of the advocacy campaign we all gathered to Devinuwara or Dondra
head as the British pronounced the southernmost tip of the Island. The local government
authority agreed to arrange the meeting for us with an offering at the historical Vishnu Temple
which dates back more than 750 years. Women and men of the fishing community who are the
inhabitants of the area was invited and after the religious ceremony attend by the chairman of
the Pradeshiya Sabha and all members together with prominent women from Matara and the
community we walked to the Three Wheel park and –pasted Stickers and distributed leaflets
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among the public. The ceremony was concluded with a brief meeting and milk rice, bananas and
chutney with tea, prepared by the villagers to our order.
8. Significant journeys of the advocacy and Awareness Campaign:
Road show No: 1
We planned a train journey to for our advocacy and awareness campaign as the highlight of the
series of events to be held from Kalutatra to Polgahawela, we made arrangements with the
railway department a month prior to the date which was on the 27th and made all necessary
documentation and obtained clearance from the Hon. Deputy Minister of Transport after
meeting him personally, we also wanted to get a special train since there were dignitaries who
were going to join us and we wanted it to be very special. We invited many dignitaries and
policy makers as well heads of foreign missions and received greetings from many including the
secretary defense and Head of missions.
Activities that were lined up for the advocacy rail road trip:
a) Street drama by the students of Sri Jayawardenapura University
b) Poster distribution
c) Leaflet distribution
d) Sticker pasting
e) Releasing of balloons with messages
f) Brief meetings in three railway stations.
On the 11th hour we were told by the railway department that they are not sure what we will do in the
train thus they wanted letters from various individuals guaranteeing that we will not do any
antigovernment activity, we had very little time and took the best alternative to the train, we got 4 big
luxury busses and decorated them from the balloons, ribbons and banners. We had a brief meeting
where we handed over a gift to the child who’s poster was chosen to print the sticker to put in school
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vans and busses this was done by Madam Nicole Chulick from the office of public policy US Embassy
Colombo. The street drama was staged by the students and posters, leaflets and stickers were
distributed. We got in to busses and drove towards Colombo beautiful spectacle of a road show, we
then stopped at Moratuwa Station and went around distributing leaflets and stickers and proceeded to
Fort Railway station where, HE the Canadian HC, Madam Sherry Carlin Mission Director USAID, Hon. MP
Rosy Senanayake, Hon. MP Sujeewa Senasingha and Hon. MP Chandrani Bandara together with
Chairperson of National Committee on Women Madam Swarna Sumanasekara, Madam Kamani
Witarana among many others who were waiting for us. The media was also present and after the street
drama was staged the guests released balloons which were a wonderful sight. After that we boarded
busses and followed by lunch reached Polgahawela station which was our final destination for the first
road show. Provincial council members pradeshiya sabha members and community leaders together
with the station master were there to welcome us. We were treated with Sri Lankan traditional sweets
inside the ticketing office, which was a very rear opportunity for all of us, we also went to the railway
platform and distributed leaflets and posters to the passengers, we also went to the marketplace to
distribute leaflets, posters and stickers, the students did their drama and all were very happy that we
managed to get the best even without the train.
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Road Show 2:
Our second road show was to Jaffna, we had women politicians, from all levels, TEAM 1325
members, civil society actors and women leaders, 20 of us. we stopped at all townships in A-9 to
distribute posters, leaflets and stickers to three wheelers, our well wishes in many towns such as
Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, Kilinochci met us to greet us and help in the distribution. We did
distribute in Jaffna and suburban towns and marked our journey in Point Pedro putting a banner
near the light house. Security forces from various camps also greeted us and we were able to
distribute leaflets to them. During this second road show two special events took place and they
are:
Program at the Walikaman West Pradeshiya Sabha
The highlight of the road show was the meeting arranged by the Walikaman Pradeshiya Sabha in
order to distribute prizes to the winners of essay and poster competition for Jaffna children. We
received 13 posters and 89 essays in total from these students.Parents and well wishes were
invited to the occasion and it was very important for us since these children have seen worse
days in life due to conflict. Moreover, although the posters were very high in quality of drawing,
they lacked poster colors or paint that children of other areas had, so we were very happy to
distribute prizes to all children apart from special prizes in kind to the winners.
Apart from the prize distribution, the Hindu priest who addressed the gathering noted “we have
an objective beyond this prize distribution to these children, we should ask these children, rather
than experienced adults, how to build peace, reconciliation and friendship.” Also, another
incident that gained attention in this program was the response given by a fourth year student
from the Sithakarni Central College. In response to the question, what sort of country you desire,
raised by Ms. Visaka Dharmadsa, Jayakandan Manasiya stated that she prefer “a peaceful Sri
Lanka filled with happiness”. Her response evoked the audience to think about the expectations
of the younger generations and to work hard to bring peace and happiness to the country.
Program at the Point Pedro Urban Council
In relation to the Women, Peace and Security advocacy and awareness program, the Point Pedro
Urban council organized an awareness seminar for prevention of violence against women and
children. The program enabled us to meet the youth group’s leaders, women development
officers, civil society, politicians in the area and women from rural women’s societies. The
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program also allowed the participants to present their questions and the issues they are facing in
their communities.
Following issues and suggestions were presented during the discussion:








Women feel insecure (use of drugs is high in the area, as a result of the drug usage sexual
harassment is high, Tamil women are supposed to wear a necklace as a symbol of their
marriage, but because of the insecure situation they cannot even where it)
A women presented at the session suggested to train Karate for self defense
Women need to be the heads of the organizations, since women are being abused when there
are male heads
It was noted that the Northern Province lack a development plan and they are not receiving
enough funds that are allocated to the area, the funds are not reaching war affected people,
instead the funds are being used for elections
Suggestion: Begin with preparing a development plan for the Northern Province taking in to
account the talented university students’ knowledge and experience
Politicians mediation in case of terminating the license/permit of bars
Solution: Raise awareness among the public about alcoholism and how can this be eradicated
Poverty is high in the area and there are lot of war affected people
Government is not providing funds for awareness campaigns only NGOs are taking the initiative
to raise awareness programs
Women are facing difficulties after facing sexual harassment because of the family, class,
culture, society as well as the police. Victims are not aware about where they should go and
complain
Suggestion: women groups should get together and make a strong connection to address such
issues faced by women, solutions should be searched within the village because there is a need
to protect the culture as well.
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9. Press Conference
A press conference was held to make the general public aware of the campaign in Kandy with
the participation of journalist from all electronic and print media, we also had 5 journalists
coming from Kegalle and they did cover the event at the Polgahawela station.
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9. One day seminar and conference
One day seminar with the poster exhibition was held in Kandy at the Hindu Cultural hall with the
participation of more than 575 men and women from all parts of the country. They were
grassroots women leaders from all 25 districts they came in busses which were allocated for
them only we also had public servants, women development officials, professionals ,
academics, university students, members of youth parliament, and civil society actors. the
event had several specialties they are:
a) A shadow show on the combination theme of domestic violence and violence against
women, conducted by the students of Mahaweli cultural society
b) Panel discussion on Sex and gender based violence by a four member expert panelists
comprising of a lawyer, Woman police officer of the women’s desks and a civil society
activists who is working on the issue of violence against women for years moderated by an
University professor. the issues discussed were
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
(i)
Situation Analysis, (ii) Legal implication , (iii) Reporting cases Referral services
(iv)
Strategies for improvement
Key note address on the theme was delivered by Dr. Deepika Udugama head department of
Law, University of Peradeniya
Speech by the minister of women’s affairs of the Central Province
Speech by former minister of women’s affairs and current provincial council member
Distribution of Prizes for the winners of poster and essay completion : we call for a
competition of essays and posters on the theme “Lets project our childhood” the campaign
was for 3 age groups namely 6-8, 9 – 14 and 15- 18. in both Sinhala and Tamil languages.
Release of balloons: hundred balloons were released with messages tagged in each one by
the invitees.
Dr. Deepika Udugama – Key Note Address
Dr. Deepika Udugama, Head, Department of Law, University of Peradeniya delivered the key note
speech at the occasion of the one day seminar “Let’s Unite to Ensure a Secure Tomorrow for Her”. In
her speech she talked about gender politics and how to reach a decent society through educational
changes.
At the very beginning of her speech, she noted that the United Nations is holding its 69th General
Assembly and there UN is presenting a new theme in regards to women advancement, “He for She”, in
addressing the importance of unity among both men and women and the support of men in achieving a
decent society.
She noted “If women are treated as a second party in a democratic country, it cannot be considered as a
democratic society neither as a decent society. Further, it is hard to talk about women rights when there
are stereotypes, which consider that talking about women rights is an act of feminism or as a feminist
who disturbs the family institution and hates male party and compete against them. It is also hard to
talk about gender or women rights because gender politics exists and power struggle at all levels,
including the family institution and in the field of universities, so we should address this issue. We
should ask is “who is a woman?” and we should understand here that we are asking for our rights
because we are humans not only because we are mothers. We are not respecting male party only
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because they are fathers, but when talking about women we always tend to put motherhood forward,
however, although motherhood is important, ‘being a human’ should be prioritized in every case.”
Looking at the family institution, women do work inside houses as house wives, but there is no
economic estimation for this and still now a mother being a housewife is considered as unemployed,
and it is hard to change this concept. In terms of the women’s political advancement, she mentioned
that although she is dissatisfied about the fact that Sri Lanka was colonized, the colonization made
things easy for Sri Lanka, in terms of the franchise. Sri Lankan women were able to gain it in 1931,
because of the Donamor constitution, whereas giving political power to women was considered as
“casting pearls before a swine” by several local, powerful male politicians. In the same way even years
after decolonization, we are still struggling for a quota system, where just over 5% of women
representation is in the parliament, and even in the recent Uva Provincial elections women’s
representation was zero.
Talking about the post war error she noted that this is the time most people go for a new journey
exemplifying the case of Rwanda after the genocide. In Rwanda, they understood that women have the
ability of taking decisions and they are capable of tackling issues like conflicts at its early stages. As a
result of bringing women forward, Rwanda is beyond South Africa in terms of women’s political
representation. Therefore, she mentioned, “We should not portray women as vulnerable category,
more over Women were captured to a war that they did not design”. Although it has been five years
after war, we still don’t have a public discourse about lessons learnt even though we have a report from
“Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission”. We should think about what are the lessons we learnt
from war and address the issues that are not addressed.
She also spoke of laws and the institutions noting that we don’t accept laws and independent
institutions if we have not changed our attitudes, so it is important to change our attitudes. Although we
have good laws we cannot implement the laws. So as the primary thing we should develop attitudes,
and raising women voices in the political field is also important. For that education is necessary and
important. In Sri Lanka, the investment in education is very high at all levels. But we are not receiving
the proper education on peace, reconciliation, gender, and justice through the education system we
have now. It is limited to certain sectors like law. Dr.Udugama asserted that we should make a big
change in the educational system in Sri Lanka and promote women’s participation in politics to reach a
decent society.
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