As evening shadows fell the call for safety rang out
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As darkness fell on the evening of March 5, with the Fort Railway Station bustling with people rushing home from work, approximately 300 women and men of all religions, ethnicities and ages, began their walk for safety for women on the streets at night. Each participant carried a torch.
Organised by the Women’s Education and Research Centre (WERC) as its International Women’s Day initiative, the aim was to create awareness on the issue of violence against women and the call for a sexual violence-free country. Women from different women’s organisations and like minded organis ations together with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, walked under the banner “Safe Nights! Safe Streets! Safe Homes!”.
The slogans strongly condemned attitudes that took the night time away from women -the occurrence of sexual violence is often attributed to the dress a woman wore at the time of attack or to the time she was out on the streets.
“Sexual violence affects our families, homes and our loved ones, and we need to break the silence around it that has hidden its occurrence and prevented adequate action,” said a participant.
The walk ended at the Galle Face Green with speeches, poetry and song.
- Together they took to the streets of Colombo under the banner “Safe Nights! Safe Streets! Safe Homes!”