Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) is to present a private member's motion in parliament to protect women and child rights in the country.

UNP parliamentarian Rosy Senanayake says the bill while safeguarding women and child rights would also introduce sever punishments for child abusers and rapists.

She said that immediate steps needed to be taken to address the increasing cases of child abuse and rape of women.

The MP explained that laws related to such offenses have to be amended and strengthened.

Women from 17 different political parties in Sri Lanka united on March 8th to create a declaration printed in newspapers for the International Day of the Woman. The declaration called for the end of political exclusion of women, for an affirmation of women's equality, and for the promotion and protection of women's rights.

Addressing the second International Women's Conference in Bangalore, India last Friday, Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa said, "women, especially in the developing world face much hardship as a result of terrorism, poverty, lack of education, lack of resources in childcare and healthcare and the spread of HIV/AIDS and war.
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The main obstacle to equal political representation of women in political institutions in Sri Lanka is political - their lack of commitment to give nominations to women, the lack of internal party democracy and the present political culture perpetuated by parties.
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"While on one side the conflict created havoc in Sri Lanka, on the other hand it—to some extent—helped to advance the rights of women, particularly in strongly male-dominated societies where the women’s place—to use a common phrase—is ‘at home’," noted Dharmadasa, whose own son disappeared during the civil war.Thamilini (who only gave one name) fled heavy fighting in northern Sri Lanka just before Tamil rebels crumbled under the massive firepower and an intense ground offensive in May. She later surrendered to the authorities and is in police detention.

Sri Lanka displays positive aspects regarding its population, other than in one area:the number of women in politics. According to 2009 data, women hold 13 out of the 255 seats in Parliament, that is five percent of all seats. Women tend to enter politics largely as a result of filling a position made vacant by male kinsman. The political parties have made very little effort to nominate women to contest elections. Whilst women wings exist in almost all major political parties, their role is largely a supportive one.