pROJECTS

• “Training Women to Run for Political Office Implementing UN Resolution

1325”  -  3rd Phase Funded by NED

Train selected 375 women 15 each from 25 districts who will run for elections and further build their skills and capacities on camapaigning and public speaking and groom them to run for the 2011 local overnment election. Currently the 25 trainer has began their training workshops.

raising awareness on women peace and security realizing unscr 1325

Background

The first landmark in 19th century’s women’s empowerment was the introduction of universal franchise in 1931,granting voting rights  and the right to stand for elections. Women’s social status has been further enhanced by the adoption of government policies in 1940s  providing equal access to education and  free health care systems . Women’s high educational attainments have enabled them to enter into various fields of employment as well  into traditionally  male dominated professions. The number of women occupying decision making levels is gradually increasing.  Structural changes made in the economy in 1977 have enabled women to shift from the agricultural sector to many fields of employment in the industrial and services sectors. Women’s entry into the export processing industries specially the garment industry has brought stability to their family income and empowered them through control of their cash income. Migration of women mainly as domestic aids started with the introduction of free economic policies in late seventies has increased tremendously over the time, contributing a large share to  the foreign exchange earnings. Though women’s political participation is low women leaders have been elected to the highest seats of political power as demonstrated by the election of Madame Sirimavo Bandaranayake, the first  woman Prime Minister and later Madam Chandrika Bandaranayake Kumarathunga as Executive President for 11 years.

Programs and projects implemented at the grass root level for poverty alleviation starting from the Janasaviya program in 1989 which provided opportunities for capacity development  have led  to the empowerment of women. Formation of credit groups have facilitated women’s access to credit for  livelihood activities contributing to the family income. Women are the majority participating at the grass root level organizations and around one third of the decision making positions of the Community Based Organizations are occupied by women.

Despite these achievements women have yet  to arrive at substantive aspects of equality. Gender role stereotyping in education and unequal access to quality education are still persistent although women’s education participation has increased. Women’s labour force participation is always little over one third that of men and is fluctuating constantly. The educational gains of women have not  always provided equal access to employment  as reflected  in the unemployment figures which are continuously  double for women. Preference for men is seen  in numerous  fields of employment except in the stereotypical professions such as nursing, teaching and secretarial work. Women working in the export processing zones are occupying the lowest foremost jobs in the unskilled sector. The social problems of migrant women created by leaving their families behind are a matter of concern while they themselves are subject to harassment, injustice and social abuse. Livelihood activities have not provided adequate returns for the rural poor to escape from poverty. Women’s participation in politics is the lowest in South  Asia despite the fact that sixty three years have elapsed after gaining Independence.

The conflict which lasted for three decades prevented any attention being paid to eradicating gender inequalities prevailing in the socio economic and political fields. A new development era has dawned now with the war coming to an end, creating a unique opportunity to address women’s issues through formulation of laws, policies and programmes by the state as well private sector.

The women of Sri Lanka having understood the existing window of opportunity for the women of this country to work towards their advancement which will enable the society as a whole to benefit is planning a series of exhibitions, ten in number to be held through out the country and culmination of it in a grand style in Colombo in October this year in order to make the general public and the policy makers realize and act upon in order to facilitate the advancement of the women  and the whole nation. The exhibition also will draw the attention of women leaders far in the global north and near in SAARC region who will be invited to share their experience with our women

The proposed activities are :

      of women’s development, protection of women, women’s political participation,
democracy and peace building with the support of eminent scholars and
practitioners. 

      participation of women in all walks of life. Panel discussions enable the audience
to learn from local and international experiences vital for advocating changes in
our context. The exhibition will provide an opportunity to portray the diversity and
uniqueness of each district in women’s development and their unity to reach a
common goal.

      raising their awareness of women’s concerns and advancement.

The exhibitions will consist: