The Fight for Abortion Rights in Sri Lanka
In a country where abortion remains criminalised under colonial-era laws dating back to 1883, Sri Lanka has long denied women the fundamental right to make decisions about their own bodies. The recent…
Gender
MMDA Reform Is About Women’s and Girls’ Lives Not Political Games
Following the parliamentary debates on the Women’s Ministry budget allocation commencing March 8, fears are being raised within Muslim communities that reform of the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) is an…
Women’s Quota in Local Government Authorities Hijacked by Male Chauvinists
Sri Lanka’s battle for gender equality in politics has once again been marred by systemic barriers and patriarchal attitudes. The latest challenge? A new wave of obstacles facing women candidates in the…
Sleeping With The Enemy
Sneha About ten years ago, I was staying with a university friend and her family. During my stay, I noticed the way my friend’s husband spoke to her: it was often belittling…
One Time Too Many: The Story Of Women In Need
It was a day like any other. I was making sure the kids were kept entertained and getting some of my own work done at the same time. The knock on the…
Protecting Women in a Patriarchal Society
The statistics speak for themselves. Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) as well as child abuse have reached alarming proportions throughout the country; several cases are reported daily in the media. One…
Is the 2025 Budget Workable for Women?
reliefweb “ The government’s 2025 budget, introduced under a new administration with progressive ideologies, claims to prioritize gender equality and women’s empowerment. With gender focused allocations, it outlines initiatives to improve women’s…
Thirty Years Since Beijing: Challenges for Gender Equality
Thirty years ago, leaders from 189 countries convened at the UN’s Fourth World Conference on Women, marking a historic milestone in the global fight for gender equality. The conference resulted in the…
Many Gaps in Government’s Commitment to Protect Women’s Rights
I was feeling extremely lucky to be part of the Sri Lankan NGO delegation representing Women’s Action Network (WAN) at the 9th periodic review of the Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination…
Chasing the Elusive Rainbow
news click What does a second Donald Trump presidency really mean, especially for women and minority rights not only in the US but also globally? (Un)fortunately, we have a considerable number of…
Tackling Period Poverty
Mahatma Gandhi said, “The measure of any society is how it treats its women.” This statement emphasizes the critical role women’s wellbeing plays in societal progress. The life of women in a…
A Critical History of Women’s Health in Modern Sri Lanka
In her latest work Darshi Thoradeniya, a senior lecturer at the University of Colombo, gives an insightful exploration of the history of women’s health in Sri Lanka, shedding light on lesser known…
Addressing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
In an effort to address Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Doctors Without Borders South Asia, in collaboration with the People’s Archive of Rural India (PARI), has launched ,…
Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act: Reform is Not Repeal
In the wake of the presidential and general elections, the National People’s Power (NPP) government will have to navigate the disinformation and scare tactics that were deployed during the campaign period about…
To Have And To Hold: Controlling Behaviour and Marital Violence
There has been a noticeable increase in the amount of public attention directed towards the lack of safety felt by women and girls in the last few years. The global movement 16…
