Following on from the ‘Global Consultation on the Application of Women’s Human Rights framework on the issues of Women in Conflict Situations’ held in Colombo in October 2010, the Colombo Group which includes WMC continued to work closely with the CEDAW Committee assisting with the elaboration of a General Recommendation to CEDAW on women and … Continue reading International Advocacy for CEDAW General Recommendation on Armed Conflict and Women

As part of a project to increase the percentage of nominations and votes for women in the upcoming Local Government elections, WMC held several meetings with members of political parties in order to advocate the political parties and party leaders to nominate more women for the upcoming local government election. Another objective was to discuss … Continue reading Meetings with members of political parties

On national level, the campaign consisted of newspaper, television and radio advertisements and also a hoarding. Newspaper advertisements – Two advertisements were published in Sinhala and Tamil newspapers from the 8th – 15th March. Television advertisements 
- This campaign went on for one week with Sinhala advertisements (http://youtu.be/vQClplKA5JQ) broadcast on Swarnawahini, ITN and Sirasa TV and … Continue reading Vote for a Woman Campaign

WMC held a press briefing at Cinnamon Grand, Colombo on the 9th of February 2011 to present the female candidates who will contest for the upcoming Local Government elections in the country. These women are those who were presented by the Women and Media Collective with the aim of increasing nominations and votes for women … Continue reading National Level Press Briefing

Newspaper advertisements In September 2010 WMC published several newspaper advertisements for a period of one month in Sinhala, Tamil and English in the following newspapers. They focused on the proposed amendment to the Local Government Act. Sunday Island, Sunday Divaina, Virakesari, Silumina, Sunday Observer, Dinamina and Virakesari. In January 2011 more newspaper advertisements were published in Sinhala and Tamil promoting … Continue reading Media Campaign for increasing women’s representation at Local Government (2010/2011)

A workshop was held from 18 – 20 August 2010 inColombofor potential women candidates for the local government elections. It was attended by 40 participants from Kurunegala, Puttlum, Monaragala, Badulla andGalle. They were trained in various aspects such as facing the media, profiling yourself in print media, writing articles to newspapers, public speaking, etc.

A two-day workshop on Advocacy Strategies was held on the 9th and 10th of June 2010 in Colombo for women who are expecting to contest the local government elections. It was part of a series of workshops, the aim of which is to increase women’s political representation by 20% at the local government level. 30 … Continue reading Workshop on Advocacy Strategies

WMC felicitated the 13 female Members of Parliament elected to the 7th Parliament of Sri Lanka from the 2010 Parliamentary Election. Minister of Child Development & Women’s Affairs Tissa Karaliyadde was Chief Guest at the event. Those felicitated included Sumedha Jayasena, Nirupama Rajapakse, Sudarshani Fernandopulle, Rosy Senanayake, Malani Fonseka, Kamala Ranatunga, Thalatha Atukorale, Sriyani Wijewickrama, … Continue reading Felicitation ceremony for the women MPs of the 7th Parliament

WMC organized an extensive media campaign in order to raise awareness about the limited representation of women in the Sri Lankan political arena and to increase women’s participation at the 2010 Parliamentary Election. Newspaper advertisementswere published in leading Sinhala, Tamil and English language newspapers highlighting the fact that although 52% of the country’s population consists of … Continue reading Media Campaign for increasing women’s participation at the 2010 Parliamentary Election

A media briefing was held on the 17th of February 2010 where all party representatives addressed the media on issues related to women’s representation at elections and in particular about increasing the number of women nominations for the upcoming parliamentary election. Some of the speakers at the event included Western Provincial Council MPs Ashoka Lankathilake … Continue reading Media Briefing on Increasing Women’s Participation at the 2010 Parliamentary Election