Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Saroja Savithri Paulraj presented the progress made since the submission of Sri Lanka’s 9th periodic report to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in Geneva recently (Feb 13). 

Outlining notable progress achieved and notable achievements in decision-making roles including in Parliament, Minister Paulraj underlined the government’s commitment to upholding the rights of women and girls and in advancing gender equality across all sectors, while seeking to address remaining challenges across economic, social and cultural spheres. 

Minister Paulraj highlighted the election of 22 female Parliamentarians from diverse social backgrounds including from the working class, and marginalized communities and two women parliamentarians from the Malayaga community for the first time in Sri Lanka’s parliamentary history, as well as the appointment of the third female Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, who obtained the highest number of preferential votes from the Colombo district. 

The Minister further highlighted the achievements made and further efforts being taken to broaden gender equity and equality in all sectors and ensure women’s participation in decision-making at all levels and across a broad spectrum of sectors. 

While underlining the crucial role of women in driving the economy and in generating income across key sectors such as garments, plantations, and migrant workers, the delegation highlighted the measures taken by the government to mitigate existing challenges and enhance women’s contribution to the economy in both formal and informal sector, including by providing awareness, capacity development, financial assistance, social welfare facilities etc. 

The delegation further indicated actions already taken and further commitments to revitalize the rural economy, eradicate poverty, and address the disproportionate impact on women due to economic challenges. 

The review provided an opportunity to brief the Committee on some of the key policy and legislative reforms in the country to strengthen the implementation of the Convention in Sri Lanka including the establishment of a National Women’s Commission under the Women Empowerment Act No 37 of 2024, and Sri Lanka’s first National Action Plan for Women, Peace and Security for 2023 to 2027. 

The launch of a multi-sectoral National Action Plan (NAP) to address Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) for the period 2024-2028 and actions taken to address the increasingly challenging issue of online gender-based violence were highlighted. 

Sri Lanka ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women in 1981, the same year the Convention came into force. The CEDAW Committee comprises 23 independent experts who monitor the implementation of the Convention. 

The Committee appreciated the constructive and respectful manner in which the dialogue was conducted.

The all-female Sri Lanka delegation included senior officials from the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Attorney General’s Department, the Sri Lanka Police, and the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva. (Newswire)

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The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has praised Sri Lanka’s national action plan on women, peace and security, but has raised questions about the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act, which permitted child marriage, and domestic violence.

The national action plan on women was applauded after the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today concluded its consideration of the ninth periodic report of Sri Lanka.

One Committee Expert said the national action plan on women, peace and security was a positive step in addressing the needs of women in conflict.  Were there plans to conduct a mid-term assessment of the plan?

Yamila González Ferrer, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur for Sri Lanka said that the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act was amended in 2022, but there were still concerns about elements of the law.  Were there plans to further amend the law, including to ban child marriage?

Another Committee Expert said at least one in five women in Sri Lanka had experienced violence from an intimate partner, and many did not report it.  What was the timeline for adopting proposed amendments to the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act?  What protections were provided to women victims of violence?

Introducing the report, Saroja Savitri Paulraj, Minister of Women and Child Affairs of Sri Lanka and head of the delegation, said the Sri Lankan Government was committed to upholding the rights of women and girls and advancing gender equality.  

This review held particular significance, as it was the country’s first engagement with an international human rights treaty body since the presidential and parliamentary elections of 2024.

Minister Paulraj said Sri Lanka’s first national action plan for women, peace and security for 2023 to 2027 had been launched and that the Government was committed to realising the full promise of the women, peace and security agenda.  

The delegation added that the action plan addressed displacement and women’s protection, security and participation in peacebuilding.  The State party was planning to conduct a review of the implementation of the action plan.

On the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act, the delegation said the Government had conducted consultations regarding its amendment. It was trying to strike a balance between women’s and children’s rights and cultural rights. Minister Paulraj added that the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus had suggested setting a minimum age for marriage and establishing a multi-sectoral committee to address this issue.

On domestic violence, the delegation said the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act had been amended; the amended Act would come into force this year. The Assistance to Victims Act underlined the rights of victims to be treated with respect and privacy, and to request legal, medical and psychosocial assistance.  A toll-free hotline operated by female officers was available for reporting domestic violence.

In closing remarks, MinisterPaulraj said the Sri Lankan Government had undertaken significant efforts to strengthen women’s empowerment.  It was fully committed to addressing the issues that women faced in the State and would continue to engage with the Committee constructively.

In her concluding remarks, Nahla Haidar, Committee Chair, said that the State party had shared candidly and transparently the progress made and the difficulties it was facing.  She commended the State party for its efforts and encouraged it to implement the Committee’s recommendations for the benefit of all Sri Lankan women and girls.

The delegation of Sri Lanka consisted of representatives from the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs; the Attorney General’s Department; the Sri Lanka Police; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism; and the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

The Committee will issue the concluding observations on the report of Sri Lanka at the end of its ninetieth session on 21 February. 

For more information : https://shorturl.at/Uk2Ir (Newswire)

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