AWAWNews
50 years of women’s political leadership
Sri Lankan Women proudly celebrate 50 years of women’s leadership in politics.
Few women gathered to the residence of Her Excellency Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumarathunga on the 21st of July for a simple ceremony and garland the photograph of First women head of state Hon. Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike. Madam Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the first women head of state on the 21st of July 1960 opening doors for thousands of women across the globe to follow her foot steps and lead their countries to prosperity. Women of Sri Lanka will be hosting many events during the year to celebrate this very special event and also to encourage women around the world to enter in to the realm of politics.
AWAW handed over a spice grinder to women’s organization in Navagampura Ampare the funds were donated by Sandy Ramsey of Crises Recovery International USA.
AWAW Chair attended the 6th Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy from 11th to the 14th April 2010 in Jakarta Indonesia.
With Rt. Hon. Kim Campbell former Canadian Prime minister
At the Jakarta election commissioner’s office
AWAW chair attended the World Congress on Psychosocial work in search and exhumation process related to forced disappearances from April 21st 23rd in Bogotá Colombia.
with Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo
With a family member from Guatemala
Our chair attended a very important 1325 workshop organized by Urgent Action Fund from 14 – 16 March in Amman Jordan.
AWAW celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the International Women’s day by visiting Trincomalee on 4th, 5th and 6th of March with the TEAM 1325 members. We were able to hold two very successful meetings with war affected women in Trinco and also with the civil society organizations to identify the specific issues that are faced by the women in displacement camps as well who are recently settled. This project was funded by the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Colombo.
A consultative discussion on Women’s Voices in Development was held on Tuesday 19th January 2010, at Mount Lavinia Hotel. The key note address was delivered by HE President Chandrika Bandaranayake Kumarathunga.
This project was conducted for further enhancement of the knowledge of TEAM 1325 on 17th amendment and its limitations and 13th Amendment and also the Executive presidency and the responsibility and powers of the President’s office on 21st 22nd and 23rd of December 2009 at Hotel Hill Top.
Cross party women politician’s coalition met at hotel Tamarind Tree Katunayake to finalize the document women voices in development on December 15th 2009
A one day workshop was held with the participating of key decision makers of Kandy on Violence against women and its impact on Economy.
The question we posed was "Is violence against women an issue in our society? If so what remedies can be taken to prevent it, also to identify the connection between the harmful effects that violence against women has in domestic economies and also the countries economy as a whole"
A one day workshop was held on 7th of November for orientation and to hand over cheques to the women trainers of NED 2nd phase, these 15 trainers will train 750 women, 50 each from 15 districts.
1325 conference in Oslo Norway from 10th – 13th November 2009.
Cross party women politician’s coalition met at hotel Dear Park Giritale to discuss strategies for future collaboration and to draft a women’s charter.
Members of African Sri Lankan community meeting Her Excellency the High Commissioner of South Africa, Madam Pheto, at the South African High Commission on the 16th October 2009.
AWAW would like to announce with gratitude that the Royal Norwegian Embassy donated a vehicle to the Association
AWAW donated 24 chairs and a set of large cooking vessels to Dutuwewa Samadhi Kantha organization
Samagi Kantha samithiya two very rural women’s organizations in Anuradhapura districts, the goods were handed over by Hon. Madam Chandrani Bandara Member of Parliament of the district.
Handing over seed money to 8 women of Diriya women and Child Development organization of Beruwela. The project was funded by the generous donation of Ms. Rolly Bee of U.K.
AWAW will be carrying out a research project with Mc Gill University Montreal, Canada, on Child Soldiers of Sri Lankan conflict,
A planning meeting was held at the Mc Gill University from 6th to the 12th of May 2009.
Certificates presented to the participants for their successful completion of the project, “Exploring knowledge, attitude and practices – Women and Conflict” funded by WDP-WUSK
AWAW held a meeting in Colombo on the 3rd of March 2009 for the “TEAM 1325” to meet Ms. Maha Muna of UNFPA and Ms. Mona Dave of NED
With Ms. Maha Muna of UNFPA and Hon. Upulangani Malagamuwa
Negotiation Skills and Knowledge Building Workshop For Senior Sri Lankan Women Politician January 26 – 30, 2009
Presented by:
Association of War Affected Women / International Civil society Action Network Partnership with the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School.
Funded by Royal Norwegian Government, Hunt Alternatives and Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School.
List of participants
Hon. Minister Ferial Asharff
Hon. Thalatha Atukorale
Hon. Chandani Bandara
Hon. Thangeswari Kadiragama
Hon. Upulangani Malagamuwa
Hon. Kumari Balasuriya
Hon. Priyanthi Goonathilaka
Hon. Kokila Gunawardana
Ms. Rosy Senanayake
Ms. Syamala Gomez
Ms. Prema Thiagarajah
Ms. Visaka Dharmadasa
Advocacy campaign to secure 33% quota to increase the women’s political participation.
AWAW carried a very successful advocacy campaign to secure a 33% quota for women. We demanded that the laws to be brought in to make it compulsory that all political parties will have a 33% quota in their nomination lists to be eligible for acceptance in all future elections.
Towards this we,
* Launched a post card campaign
* TEAM 1325 went to the Sri Lankan parliament on the 10th of July and met the Chairperson of the parliamentary select committee on electoral reforms and the speaker and many other ministers and MPs
* 50 women from central province who were trained in collaboration with IRI went to the Sri Lankan Parliament on the 9th of October demanding the same
* Letters were sent to all national level NGOs seeking their support for the same
* Held a press conference in Kandy on the 28th of October 2008 to tell the world of our demand of a 33% quota for women in the nomination lists of all political parties and why we demand so and the benefits of having a significant number of women in decision making.
Youth Declaration for Peace
Serendipity (Sri Lankan Charity Dance Party) in honour of International Peace Day on the 20th t September 2008, at 8 p.m. at the V Bar, Liverpool St, Sydney Australia.
This was very special event as the youths of Diaspora were able to launch a youth Declaration for Peace. A movement for peace and reconciliation
Salzburg Global seminar
Session 455, “Peace-Making and Peace-Building: Securing the Contribution of Women and Civil Society”
Consultative meeting for recommendations on 1325 national action plan.
The Association of War Affected Women together with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs organized a colloquium on the 19th of August 2008 at the ministry of Women’s Affairs Auditorium where the Hon minister of Women’s Affairs presided.
This colloquium was convened to get the recommendations of the national level women leaders and INGO representatives for a National action plan on UN resolution 1325
The Colloquium was well attended and was very successful and future plans were also decided.
AWAW have launched a massive advocacy campaign to demand a 33% quota in the nomination lists for women in all political offices, we have taken the below action on this regard during July 2008.
We have written to all leading NGOs appreciating their tireless work on this regard and seeking their support.
Women leaders of all 25 districts have given letters to all members of parliament in their respective districts.
Women of Central Province Women’s voice is engaged in a big signature collection campaign from political and administrative heads though out Central province.
AWAW together with the 25 women leaders of “TEAM 1325” made a highly successful advocacy visit to the Sri Lankan parliament on the 10th of July and met 22 elected members in person and had very fruitful discussions with the Hon. Speaker, Hon. Minister Diensh Gunewardena, head of parliament select committee of electoral reforms, Hon. Dallus Alahapperuma, Hon.Minister Karu Jayasuriya, Hon. Joseph Michel Perera Hon. Dilan Perera, Hon. Sambandan and many others.
AWAW has recently made connections with London-based Tamil Women’s Development Forum (TWDF).
a group advocating for the human rights of ALL women in Sri Lanka and the Diaspora. TWDF convened an International conference in May 2008 to look at the ways to promote gender equality and empower women, where AWAW along with women from various other organizations spoke.
TWDF chair says, “We work with a few groups in Sri Lanka and this connection with the AWAW a Sri Lanka-based organization is critical for us. We wish to respond to the needs of all Sri Lankan women and partnering and working through experts in the field is a great way to move forward. I look forward to what we can achieve together”
AWAW /IRI summit was held in June at the Hill Top Hotel Kandy.
With the able guidance of Daniela Dimithrievska a very able Mazadonian trainer and Robert Kushing from IRI DC.
AWAW embarked on a new project called “An Exploration of Knowledge.
Attitude and Practices: Women and Conflict” working in Matara, Galle and Kalutara districts with 6 women’s organizations, these are from the initial meetings held with the organizatons
AWAW held its 1st resource pack preparation workshop at the Hotel Hill Top Kandy on the 11th 12th and 13th of July.
Visaka Dharmadasa held a training for North Korean Defector Women’s organization on the invitation of IRI.
AWAW initiated a new project with the partnership with WUSK – Women Defining Peace project.
To train selected 60 women from 6 local level women’s organizations two each from Matara, Galle and Kalutara districts, on three interrelated subjects, Active listening, conflict resolution and women’s coping mechanisms in post disaster situation and also learn from the experience from these women and also look into the possibility of building a local level women’s agency for peace building in Sri Lanka
Women Defining Politics Organized together with International Republican Institute, 25th to 27th May 2007 at Earl’s Regency, Kandy.
More than 60 Women from central Province who are politically active participated in this very special event which brought two powerful women ministers and Several parliament members as well provincial council and local level women politicians to share and learn more from each other off not only running to political office but being politically active in their day to day life.
Apart from the Sri Lankan politicians, two parliament members from Philippines and Maldives were also present to contribute with their experience. We also had the privilege of having US ambassador to Sri Lanka Mr. Robert O Blake, Canadian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Madam Angela Bogdon and Swiss Ambassador Madam Ruth Fliint and the secretary to the Sri Lankan Parliament with us.
Series of workshops in training 90 women from the Central Province to run to political office Organized by International Republican Institute and The Association of War affected Women
As it is becoming increasingly evident, the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka has resulted in gross violations of human rights, decline in the democratic practices and enormous loss of human lives. It is also destroying the society, economic growth, and human development. As a direct impact thousands of women and children as well men have been affected. In a situation where both parties have not withdrawn from the ceasefire but are engaging in open warfare, returning to the negotiating table in the near future has become a distant dream. In a rapidly growing hostile and uncertain political climate, norms of good governance and best practices are even more remote.
Even when the parties return to the table and a final solution is found the deterioration of the society in all aspects will pose a very big challenge in implementing the agreement. Taking this ground reality into consideration and the necessity of women in decision making levels if we are to envisage a country where the democratic practices are upheld and good governance is in place, AWAW together with IRI has proposed a series of workshops to train women to run to political office, specifically in the central province of Sri Lanka.
The first round of workshops on Advocacy conducted by Representative Hon. Leslie Waters-Florida, USA. Was held in August 2007 in Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya.
The 2nd round on Funding your Programs: Successful Proposal Drafting workshops were conducted by Sondra Govatski of IRI in Kandy Matale and N’ Eliya on September 2007
Women’s perceptions on Power Sharing in Sri Lanka
Organized by the association of War Affected Women and the Forum of Federations, Canada.
Chaaaya Village, Habarana 16-18 August 2007
The Association of War Affected Women with the cooperation of Forum of Federations of Canada did organized a seminar on women’s perception on Power sharing in Sri Lanka. As we all knew, a viable power sharing arrangement is a must, if we are to see an end to the armed conflict which has engulfed our country for the past two and half decades.
As this issue is directly impacting on our country’s future, It is important that as women, for us to engage in broader consultations with women of all walks of life in this country. Though there have been numerous opinions expressed and several proposals tabled to address this issue, a collective women’s voice is yet to be heard.
We believed that this conference can be a major milestone towards that direction. As much as this conference is important for the issue it l address, it is also very important for the fact that it brought together all elected women politicians of all political parties for the first time under one roof.
Lending a hand - Making life better for tsunami affected women
The Tsunami of December 26, 2004 brought a new wave of devastation to parts of the island that had already been badly affected by the conflict. In addition, large parts of the coastal areas of the south and west of the island were also badly damaged. Official estimates are that more than 31,000 people in Sri Lanka were killed and approximately 6,300 are missing. An estimated 4,43000 persons were displaced and the affected population is estimated at 1 million out of an estimated population of 19 million.
Women appear to have suffered disproportionately from the tsunami. The majority of the deceased adults were women, and the majority of displaced adults are women. Many women have lost their husbands and / or financial support of their husbands, and are in need of training so that they can provide for their own financial well-being. As the statistics show the most affected by the tsunami are fisher folks and those women who have lost their husbands are left with no skills or livelihood to fend for themselves and their children. Two years down the road these women are still in camps or in houses of their own but find it difficult to manage the day to day expenses as they have lost their businesses and if they are given a small support to stand on their feet they can start their lives back and make a better live for them as well their children.
Taking the above facts into consideration AWAW with the generous support of Global fund for Women distributed sewing machines, Spice grinding machines, Cake baking ovens and cash for 95 women of the Great Tsunami Women’s organization of Matara, they plan to make this a revolving activity and the women are confident that they can multiply the numbers of beneficiaries.
