WMC Director Dr. Sepali Kottegoda spoke at the National Conference on “The Role of Women in Reconciliation” on the 23rd of July 2012. Her presentation Do Women play a role in Sri Lanka’s ‘Reconciliation’?: Gender dynamics in the transition from war to peace can be found below. Photo from http://www.kadirgamarinstitute.lk/

A demonstration was held on the 20th of July 2012 at Lipton Circus, Town Hall, Colombo. It was convened by Kamini M. Vitarana and women gathered to protest the current spate of incidents of violence against women and children, remarks by the police that this is “the fault of the parents” and the inability of … Continue reading Women protest against the current spate of rape and child abuse

WMC has issued a media statement on the recent spate of incidents of violence against women and children. We urge state institutions such as the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Child Development, the Ministry of Justice, the Child Protection Authority and the Department of Police to act immediately to stop this wave of violence against women and children. … Continue reading Media Statement on the Incidence of Sexual Violence against Women and Children

Changing Minds | EQUAL REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN POLITICS Sharing experiences – 2011 Local Government Elections WMC, in partnership with five other women’s organizations, carried out a project to increase nominations for women candidates at the 2011 local government elections. A discussion was held on the 22nd of June 2012, in order to share the … Continue reading Sharing experiences – 2011 Local Government Elections

Changing Minds | EQUAL REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN POLITICS Sharing experiences – 2011 Local Government Elections WMC, in partnership with five other women’s organizations, carried out a project to increase nominations for women candidates at the 2011 local government elections. We are now organizing a discussion in order to share the experiences from this project … Continue reading Upcoming Event : Sharing experiences – 2011 Local Government Elections

Member organizations of Mothers and Daughters of Lanka (MDL) from all over the country, including WMC, organized a protest march and demonstration on the 8th of March 2012, in front of the Fort Railway Station. It focused on the challenges faced by women in the current climate of increasing cost of living and inflation.

ACTFORM was one of the organizers of the joint programme on “Commemoration of the International Day of Migrants – 12 in 12 joint campaign for rights and protection of domestic workers”. It was held on the 18th of December, 2011.

Representations were made with the NGO Shadow Report before the CEDAW Committee with special focus in the areas of political representation, legal reform and conflict recovery.  The Committee called for a follow up report in these areas in 2 years.

WMC representative is a member of the National Advisory Committee on Labour Migration Policy. We have proposed district level committees involving local government bodies, divisional secretariats and community organizations to initiate better linkages for implementation of aspects of the policy. Discussions are being held between the Committee, the Foreign Employment Bureau and the Ministry, the … Continue reading Advocacy for translating migrant worker policy into law and its enforcement

WMC carried out campaigns for the Local Government Election of 2011 in order to increase nominations for women and then to vote for a woman (see Media page for campaign details).
 
A total of 181 women were put forward by WMC and 72 were successful in receiving nominations for the upcoming local government election. Out of … Continue reading Local Government Election 2011