Minister for Women affairs, Mrs.
Chandrani Bandara participated as chief guest of the program.
National Fisher Women Federation
was created and developed to formalize women activism in 18 districts of the
country that were engaged with many related activities. Together with National
Fisheries Solidarity Movement, National Women Federation work towards a
establishing a just and equal society, which have no barriers due to
nationality, race or gender difference.
From the beginning of the NFWF, working
for increase women involvement in development process of the country, in
socially, culturally and economically.
Increase of women participation in
politics is also a major goal of the NFWF at least up to 35% in governing
bodies of the country.
The Women day program mainly
focused on insist to government to build and establishing national women policy
for the country. Policy proposal draft was handed over to minister Mrs.
Chandrani Bandara along with 10,000 signatures of women in 18 districts as
proving material that those proposed draft is from grass root level community
and also as tool for insist the government to work progressively on subject and
establish national women policy as people’s aspirations are reveled.
During short period of time, after
establishing NFWF, it has conducted noticeable work in the field of women and
children rights.
Experience sharing to create and improve
co-existence and peace among people in north and south.
Discussions with diplomatic
community in Sri Lanka on women related issues.
Dialogue among parliamentary and
local level politicians on women and children related matters including sexual
abusing, child labor and recognition of 35% share for women in politics and
also on ratification of CEDOW treaty was requested and thoroughly discussed.
Apart from policy level work, NFWF
has encouraged and helped about 800 women individuals strengthen their economy.
During the program, women leaders
from several districts raised main issues they are facing in present social and political context in the country. There
are thousands of women who have lost their loved once during the war. Women who
lost their family breadwinners are living in very troubled and in desperate
situation. No proper security for those women and children. No proper income
for sustains family and social and cultural barriers have negative effect on
them.
Minister
for women afire, Mrs. Chandrani Bandara stated that the government have already
adopted a policy to recognize 25% women participation in decision making level
of politics as basic step and have been proposed to increase it up to 38% while
giving 2/3 chance for women in national list to enter in to parliament and women
will step forward with this to win equal rights in future.
And
also she stated that there is a ongoing work combining with UN funding to stop
sending women to middle east countries as house wives as it has created wide
range of issues for women as well as children of those families.
During
the common discussion held latter part of the program, given opportunity to
participants to present their views and proposals regarding four main areas
stating, 1. Needy of national policy on women 2. What are the areas should
cover by national women policy 3. Should country work to improve laws and
regulations to protect children 4. Issues that affects women and children in
the areas of economic, social, political and culture.
Some
of proposals are as follows.
Should
do alterations in defining of house holder as it gives more masculine dominant
meaning
Make
social awaken on state of women in society and how they differ from men.
Unwanted
pressure from religious institution and people on women must be prevented.
Make
solution on widowed women’s issues and find out the root causes of left behind
of women by married men and address the issues.
Increase
of social security for women and children.
Make
economical safety for women in the context of globalization in the world.
The program was successfully concluded with adding more strength to the national women federation.
