The National Action Plan to address Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) was officially launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Colombo today.

The National Action Plan, developed on the vision of creating “a violence free life for women and children” with Zero Tolerance for Sexual and Gender-based Violence in Sri Lanka, is significant as it was formulated using a multi-sectoral approach with engagement from key ministries representing nine sectors. Some of the lead Ministries include the Ministry of Disaster Management, the Ministry of National Policy and Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training, University Grants Commission, Ministry of Labour and Trade Union Relations, Ministry of Plantation Industries, Department of Divineguma, the Ministry of Foreign Employment, the Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Mass Media, Ministry of Law and Order, Sri Lanka Police and the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.

The National Action Plan is part of a project under the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, supported by UNDP’s Strengthening Enforcement of Law, Access to Justice and Social Integration (SELAJSI) Programme.