National Action Plan to Address Sexual and Gender-Based Violence presented

A special workshop was held in Colombo on December 8 to discuss the contents of the multi-sectoral National Action Plan to address Sexual and Gender Based Violence against Women (SGBV).

This programme was held under the patronage of Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Chair of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus in Parliament and Thalatha Athukorala, Chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Children, Women and Gender, Parliament's Department of Communications stated, 

Expressing views, the Members of Parliament stated that these plans should be implemented effectively to prevent violence against women in the home as well as the violence faced by women in the workplace.

Dr. Netanjali Mapitigama of the Family Health Bureau of the Ministry of Health addressing the gathering pointed out that a significant number of women in Sri Lanka are subjected to violence during pregnancy. Presenting the data, she further stated that the number of women who have been victims of various atrocities and violence in this year is more than twenty thousand.

Under the initiative of the Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment, this multi-sectoral national action plan has been prepared in relation to the curricula of 13 ministries focusing on 18 sectors.

United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Gender Advisory Sriani Perera and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Advisory Dr. Lakshman Senanayake elaborated on the contents of the National Action Plan to address Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). The parties who participated in the workshop were also given the opportunity to give their new ideas and suggestions to this national action plan.

Manjula Dissanayake, Member of Parliament, Yamuna Perera, Secretary to the Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment as well as a group of officials from several other organizations participated in this workshop organized by the National Democratic Institute (NDI).