Category: Local

Call for nominations: WikiPeaceWomen website

The search is on for 1,000,000 women from all over the world whose stories will be uploaded to the WikiPeaceWomen website. The idea is to call international attention to the vital role played by women from all walks of life in challenging harmful established social/cultural boundaries, institutions and ideologies and in creating and promoting peace … Continue reading Call for nominations: WikiPeaceWomen website

Confusion leads to INCONSISTENCY in sentencing – Daily News

Source: Daily News A tussle between judicial discretion and mandatory sentencing has given rise to inconsistency in sentencing on cases heard in country’s judicial system. The gravity of the issue is further heightened when examining sentences given on sexual offenses, prompting different rights organisations to even file fundamental rights applications on the issue. However, remedies … Continue reading Confusion leads to INCONSISTENCY in sentencing – Daily News

A consultation on Gender and Electoral Reforms in the Constitution

To further engage women in identifying key provisions for electoral reform and women’s political participation in the constitution the Women and Media Collective organised a workshop for women’s rights activists and groups from across the island on the 3rd and 4th of March 2016. This was following a series of meetings undertaken by the WMC … Continue reading A consultation on Gender and Electoral Reforms in the Constitution

The Quota for Women in Local Government: A pledge for parity and a parody in parliament?

Source: Groundviews By Chulani Kodikara The theme for International Women’s Day this year is “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step it up for Gender Equality”. A good day to reflect on the 25% mandatory quota for women in local government passed by parliament almost exactly one month ago amidst an uproar created by members of the … Continue reading The Quota for Women in Local Government: A pledge for parity and a parody in parliament?

Civil society: Propose questions for UN Secretary-General Candidates

The Women’s Major Group (WMG) submitted the call for a Feminist SG with 500+ signatures to Member States last week, highlighting qualifications we seek. They could be useful in formulating questions. As a reminder, they were: We therefore call for a woman Secretary-General who has a demonstrable commitment to: · Advancing a bold, comprehensive women’s … Continue reading Civil society: Propose questions for UN Secretary-General Candidates

IWD 2016: Strengthening and Protecting the rights of women in Sri Lanka through the new constitution

The struggle for supporting and strengthening women’s human rights in the political, social and economical spheres is far from over. In Sri Lanka for instance various forms of discrimination and violence against women in private and public life continues to undermine the gains made in achieving relatively high social development indicators for women and girls. … Continue reading IWD 2016: Strengthening and Protecting the rights of women in Sri Lanka through the new constitution

Parliament’s Representation of Women: A Selective Review of Sri Lanka’s Hansards from 2005-2014

This book launched on the 30th of January 2016, provides a ‘thick description’ of the references made to women in Parliament. In this regard, it is different to other attempts at quantifying Parliamentary discourses around women1, adopting instead a qualitative approach. While recognizing the value of quantitative research, the aim of this volume is to … Continue reading Parliament’s Representation of Women: A Selective Review of Sri Lanka’s Hansards from 2005-2014

Written Statement for the 60th Session of the CSW

Source: ARROW Commission on the Status of Women Sixtieth session 14-24 March 2016 Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and to the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century” Statement submitted by Asia Pacific Women’s Watch and Asian-Pacific Resource and Research … Continue reading Written Statement for the 60th Session of the CSW