Strengthening Gender Equality

Engaging with Parliament:

•    Technical assistance to amend discriminatory laws against women through the Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on Women and Gender. As a result three Bills have been presented to Parliament.
•    Support to Parliament to implement UN Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security
•    Dialogue forums between civil society organizations and the SOC on Women and Gender/ Select Committees, as well as the Parliament Secretariat on identified issues concerning women, peace, and security were c
 

Human Rights Commission/ National Police Commission/ Right to Information Commission:

•    Capacity Development in the area of Gender
•    Recommendations of the National Police Commission (NPC) gender studies on structural barriers with the Sri Lanka police and victim-sensitive services to be rolled out. 
•    Development of gender standards for the NPC
•    Gender-sensitive victim-centered investigation techniques to be integrated in Independent Commissions
•    Human Rights Commission (HRC) - gender considerations of Prison study to be rolled-out 

Access to Justice & Addressing SGBV:

•    Victim and Witness Protection (VWP) law reviewed integrating aspects of gender, disability and sexual-orientation
•    Operationalizing the National Plan of Action to address SGBV including strengthening the steering committee and sectoral plans – Supporting the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and linking with UN agencies.
•    Strengthening services to survivors of SGBV – legal assistance, court representation, counselling & shelters through CSOs. 
•    Linking with State and UN agencies to ensure a sustained response on shelters for women and girls.
•    Advocate for National commitment to strengthen the SGBV referral system at district and divisional level 
•    Strengthened programme engaging with men and boys as changemakers – confronting gender stereotypes and ending VAW
•    Engaging with youth on Innovative solutions using design thinking to address cyber violence among youth, especially among young women and girls. 
•    Audio-visual material on addressing SGBV, victim-centric services, Speak-up campaign against sexual harassment in public space harassment.
•    Training of judges on gender-sensitive implementation of laws 

Business & HR
•    Mentoring and strengthening women-led entrepreneurs/ investors and businesses
•    Undertake Gender Assessment focusing on the gender pay gap and other key priorities in the private sector including women's burden in unpaid care economy 
•    Enhance private sector engagement on advancing gender equality.  
•    Advocating for zero tolerance of sexual harassment at the workplace.
•    Strengthen women’s empowerment and leadership in the workplace through the Gender Equality Seal for Private and Public Enterprises.

Gender and Peace Initiative (UNW & UNDP), Reconciliation and Resettlement 
•    Sensitization of public sector institutions on sexual bribery and exploitation
•    Para-legal capacity building of Women Development Officers
•    Enhance business / financial skills of widows and Women headed household and strengthen livelihoods and entrepreneurship.  
•    Women enhancing sustainable peacebuilding
•    Resettlement programmes in the North & East targetting Women Headed Households – strengthening leadership and increased income of women through livelihood/ entrepreneurship. 
•    Women councilors at local government level have secured space/ and strengthened agency to initiate development projects
•    Agency of women empowered at local government level to participate in politics & decision making
•    District Development plans informed by recommendation from women’s activist groups