Stories
- Gender equality and women’s empowerment (18)
- Ending violence against women and girls (13)
- Human rights (3)
- Economic empowerment (3)
- Peace and security (3)
- Fund for Gender Equality (3)
- Sexual harassment (3)
- Leadership and political participation (2)
- Trafficking/sexual exploitation (2)
- Women’s rights (2)
- UNiTE campaign (2)
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Ending sexual bribery and empowering widows in Sri Lanka to bring peace to their communities
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Sharmila* was 25 years old when her husband was abducted by an armed group. Despite several of her neighbors witnessing the abduction, Sharmila was not able to find her husband or receive help from authorities.
Take five: “We should have zero tolerance for sexual bribery.”
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Shyamala Gomez is the Executive Director of the Centre for Equality and Justice (CEJ) in Colombo, Sri Lanka. CEJ supports war affected women from Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim backgrounds to advocate for their rights and for transitional justice and reconciliation in their communities.
Friday, September 20, 2019
The Government of Japan has committed USD 2 million to UN Women Sri Lanka to carry out the second phase of the ongoing programme titled “Implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Sri Lanka”. This project is to be carried out with the integral support of the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and will focus on women’s participation and empowerment in efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts.
Monday, July 9, 2018
Beena Pallical is the Executive Director at the Asia Dalit Rights Forum and the current Manager of a programme seeking to strengthen Dalit Women’s Economic Rights across South Asia . The Dalit community in this region is still considered the lowest of the historical castes and suffers widespread discrimination, despite recent legislation and initiatives. Within the community, the specific problem of women’s economic empowerment has received little attention, but is now the focus...
Friday, December 8, 2017
As Sri Lanka heads to Local Government elections in 2018, the President of Sri Lanka, H.E. Maithripala Sirisena, committed his support for increased women's political participation at the launch of a national campaign titled, "Women for Change". President Sirisena remarked that, "though women's representation in the government service is at a proper level, it is a critical issue that...
Women in the changing world of work
Monday, March 27, 2017
Across the world, all women work. They occupy varying roles and spaces, in homes, factories, farms and shops. Many have challenged conventions and stereotypes and stormed traditional male bastions, in politics, sport business and technology. However, the world of work continues to be skewed in favour of men. Only 50 per cent of working age women are represented in the labour force globally, compared to 76 per cent of men. Women do most of the...
Thursday, August 25, 2016
The Colombo Process has identified five thematic areas to guide its work: skills and qualification recognition, fostering ethical recruitment, pre-departure orientation and empowerment, remittances, and labour market analysis. They reflect the complex and often unpredictable global trends of labour mobility in the twenty-first century, especially here in Asia. They all speak to ... Your Excellency, Hon. Thalatha Athukorala, Minister of Foreign Employment of the Government of Sri Lanka, Chair in Office of the Colombo Process, H.E. William Lacy Swing, Director General, International Organization for Migration, Distinguished delegates from Colombo Process Member states, Representatives from the Abu Dhabi...
What Is a Real Man - A 'Mard'?
Monday, January 4, 2016
None of this: Eighteen-inch biceps. A moustache that supposedly proclaims your virility. 'Showing appreciation' by leering at girls on the streets. And stalking and harassing a woman until she 'falls in love' with you or hitting your wife or your partner; none of this defines a 'mard', which is the Hindi word for 'man'. Here's what does define a 'mard', a real man, though. Showing respect. Supporting her choices. Standing up for a woman's right to live free from violence, from the fear of...
Sri Lanka joins orange campaign against gender-based violence and launches HeForShe
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs of Sri Lanka, together with UN Women illuminated in orange the iconic Independence Square in Colombo to commemorate the conclusion of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign celebrated on December 10th. The event was hosted by Chief Guest, Minister of Women and Child Affairs of Sri Lanka, Chandrani Bandara Jayasinghe, the UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC), Subinay Nandy, and UN Women Multi Country Office...
Monday, December 21, 2015
UN Women’s Fund for Gender Equality announced the awarding of USD 1.4 million in grants to four innovative programmes in Asia and the Pacific starting in January 2016. These high-impact programmes were designed by women-led civil society organizations, and have been selected to jumpstart the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. The new programmes will strengthen women’s right to adequate standard of living, dignity and...