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 Program (UNDP) in Colombo on November 16.
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, Ministry of National Policy and Economic Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training, University Grants Commission, Ministry of Labour and Trade Union Relations, Ministry of Plantation Industries, Department of Divineguma, Ministry of Foreign Employment, Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Mass Media, Ministry of Law and Order, Sri Lanka Police and Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.
Speaking at the launch of the National Action Plan, Chandrani Bandara, Minister of Women and Child Affairs said, “the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs is particularly happy that several leading ministries/ institutions from different sectors, UN agencies, INGOs and NGOs have joined hands with us in developing this Plan and ensured a multi-sectoral engagement, thereby putting in place a comprehensive holistic National Plan.
The uniqueness of the Plan is in this collaboration for a coordinated response to address SGBV. The support extended by UNDP has greatly strengthened the efforts of the Ministry. Let’s commit to implement this Plan and make our country a place where there is zero tolerance of sexual and gender-based violence.
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) Program.
The SELAJSI Program of UNDP Sri Lanka works to ensure that gains in the justice sector are institutionalized, systematized and scaled-up. This program adopts a sector-wide, sequenced and strategic approach to address a number of high priority issues in Sri Lanka. These include the need to strengthen legal aid services, alternate dispute resolution mechanisms and the administration of justice, as well as the need for increased action on social integration, placing emphasis on the most vulnerable and marginalized groups in society and ensuring the engagement and empowerment of women and youth.
At the event, Una McCauley, Resident Coordinator of UN Sri Lanka and Resident Representative of UNDP Sri Lanka stated “the National Action Plan launched today is a clear indication of the political will of the Government of Sri Lanka through a comprehensive and multi-sectoral framework involving three important dimensions; Prevention, Intervention and Policy Advocacy. The UN System in Sri Lanka looks forward to working together with the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and other partners, to eliminate all forms of sexual and gender based violence against women, men, boys and girls.”
-PR.