Sunday Times 2
Mrs. Ban learns of challenges faced by WIN to end violence against women here
View(s):The empathy was obvious, even though it was a closed session.
Intense and emotional seemed the story being told, eliciting a strong supportive response. This we gathered, peering through the glass with large tinted squares, into the first-floor room at the Women-in-Need (WIN) office down Tickell Road in Borella recently.
Madam Ban Soon-taek greets WIN staff and (inset) takes a look at cards and other creations done by women who have found refuge at the shelter. Pix by Amila Gamage
Madam Ban Soon-taek, wife of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban-ki Moon, was with riveted attention listening to a tale of woe and gender violence, being told by a victim who had been supported by WIN. Ban-Ki Moon and wife were recently in Sri Lanka on an official visit.
Forced to marry her cousin after he had kidnapped and raped her while she was in the Advanced Level class, Vimala* had faced a life of physical and sexual assault. The daughter of a police officer and a teacher, even when she was pregnant, her husband’s brutality did not stop. When they moved to their own home, having lived with his parents for awhile the violence had got worse. Vimala’s trauma continued even during the second pregnancy, with the newborn being a special child who passed away when he was just three years old.
A prisoner in her own home, she continued to suffer the violence in silence, intent on bringing up her older son. However, one day, her husband attacked her with a manna knife, inflicting serious cut injuries on her shoulders and legs. Her hair had also been chopped off in the violent struggle.
Rushed to hospital, the doctors had indicated that she would have died if not brought for treatment. It was then that she returned to her parental home but two years later, her in-laws had assured her that there would be no more violence by their son.
It was an elusive dream though, with the assaults continuing and Vimala’s husband also not providing even the basic necessities to their son. As their son grew up, her husband would attack her when he was not at home, as otherwise he would intervene.
Unable to bear the severe physical and mental trauma, Vimala had left to live with her aunt, after lodging a complaint with the police. Thereafter, introduced to WIN, she had been counselled and found refuge at the WIN shelter. WIN had also counselled her husband and son. When Vimala was insistent that she could not live with her husband, WIN lawyers had helped her obtain a divorce.
“Once I got my divorce, I was offered employment at the WIN shelter. My son has also found a job,” Vimala had told Mrs. Ban eliciting smiles and nods of encouragement when she told her that she is an ‘empowered woman’ now, helping others who are facing a similar plight.
The one-on-one with a victim over, Mrs. Ban next moved to the second floor of the WIN Office to be accorded a warm welcome by WIN Executive Director, Savithri Wijesekera.
“Your visit symbolizes your deep concern about the status and empowerment of women,” said Mrs. Wijesekera, explaining that WIN has over 27 years experience, working on the issue of violence against women and girls and is the only organization in the country that offers all the essential services, free of charge, under one roof to those who are subjected to violence.
Our multi faceted services include crisis interventions and support services inclusive of psychological counselling and legal services and court representation, temporary shelter and a 24-hour helpline. WIN’s programmes and activities are designed and focused to promote a violence-free society which values and respects the rights of women and girls. A change can only be made with structured and coordinated efforts by all arms of the state, service providers and the community at large, she added.
Referring to Mrs. Ban’s involvement in the ‘Unite to End Violence Campaign’, initiated by the UN Secretary-General to raise public awareness and increase political will and resources to fight the problem, Mrs. Wijesekera said that she is sure that Mrs. Ban is aware of the many challenges faced by South Asian countries in ending violence against women.
“The biggest challenge we face today,” lamented the WIN Executive Director, “is the donors moving out of the country and restricting funding to Sri Lanka. This is due to the fact that Sri Lanka is being categorized as a lower middle-income country. This situation has resulted in the closure of WIN’s many support centres in the recent past. Such closure affects the lives of women and children, who are subject to violence. We hope that the state would take up the challenge and support WIN’s services in the future.”