Legal framework
mechanisms on human and other Cruel, Inhuman orrights. The country has Degrading Treatment or
! The Domestic Violence Act
r a t i f i e d f o u r m a j o r Punishment (1984). of Sri Lanka was passed in
international instruments, ! The Forum against GBV 2005.
which have relevance to was set up on 24 August ! Sri Lanka is a signatory to rape and other forms of
2005 in order to facilitate
the Universal Declaration of gender based violence.
g r e a t e r c o o r d i n a t i o n , Human Rights 1948 and has These are the International
understanding and sharing
also signed the Vienna Covenant on Civil and
o f i n f o r m a t i o n a n d D e c l a r a t i o n o n t h e Political Rights, 1966, and
resources and strengthen
Elimination of Violence the optional protocol;
multisectoral responses to against Women in 1993 and C o n v e n t i o n o n t h e
GBV. The membership of reaffirmed its commitment Elimination of All forms of
the forum is broad-based at the international level to Discrimination against
including local NGOs,
address the issue of gender- Women (CEDAW) (1979),
international NGOs, UN
based violence. Convention on the Rights of
agencies, donor agencies the Child (CRC) (1989) and
! Sri Lanka has ratified all a n d g o v e r n m e n t
the Convention on Torture
k e y i n t e r n a t i o n a l representation.
Sri Lanka
Policies/strategies and plans of action
gender-based violence. The Charter also set up the National Committee on Women! The Ministry of Women’s Affairs was (NCW) in 1993.
established in 1983.
! The National Plan of Action (NPA) for
! The Women’s Charter, the main policy Women was adopted by Sri Lanka following
statement of the government was adopted by
the World Conference on Women (Beijing, the State in 1993.The Charter establishes
1995) in May 1996, and has been developed standards to be observed in seven broad areas
based on the Global Platform for Action on
high as 60% (Deraniyagala, 1992). reported of being currently abused, 4.7%
Moonesinghe studied physical abuse in a cohort reported of being abused during current of pregnant women in the Badulla district of Sri pregnancy and 2.7% reported of experiencing
2 2
Lanka . A sample of 1200 pregnant women aged current sexual abuse. 15 to 49 years, representative of the district was
selected using a stratified sampling technique.
Salient findings:
Physical abuse:
Abuse during pregnancy:
Current sexual abuse:
Bodily harm:
within the confines of the home, perpetrated by occurred during the current pregnancy.
intimate male partners and other family members Sexual abuse that
(e.g. mother-in-law,sister-in-law). occurred during the year preceding the
To slap, grab, push, punch, pull administration of the screening instrument. hair, hit with hands, twist arm, kick, throttle, Moonesinghe et al. Development of a strangle, strike with an object or weapon and Screening Instrument to Detect Physical Abuse
burning. and its use in a Cohort of Pregnant Women In Sri
To commit unwanted sexual acts Lanka. Asia Pac J Public Health 2004;16 through threats, intimidation or physical force. (2);138-144.
The prevalence of abuse was considered in four ! More than 50% of women were abused on
categories: one occasion during the current pregnancy.
Half of the women experienced current Bodily harm that occurred sexual abuse on one occasion. Almost one-anytime during the entire period of marriage or fourth of the women experienced current
cohabitation. physical or sexual abuse in two to three
Figure 1: Prevalence of abuse in a cohort of pregnant women in Badulla district, Sri Lanka, 2004
Percentage
Ever abuse [n=219] Current abuse
[n=127] pregnancy [n=56]Abuse during Current sexualabuse [n=32] 18.3
Current abuse (n=127) Abuse during current
pregnancy (n=56) Current sexual abuse(n-32) 30.7
One occasion Two to three occasions Once a month
Figure 2: Distribution of abused women by frequency and category of abuse, Sri Lanka, 2004
1 http://www.searo.who.int/LinkFiles/Reproductive_Health_Profile_violence.pdf
2 Moonesinghe et al. Development of a Screening Instrument to Detect Physical Abuse and its use in a Cohort of Pregnant Women In Sri
Policies/strategies and plans of action
gender-based violence. The Charter also set up the National Committee on Women! The Ministry of Women’s Affairs was (NCW) in 1993.
established in 1983.
! The National Plan of Action (NPA) for
! The Women’s Charter, the main policy Women was adopted by Sri Lanka following
statement of the government was adopted by
the World Conference on Women (Beijing, the State in 1993.The Charter establishes
1995) in May 1996, and has been developed standards to be observed in seven broad areas
based on the Global Platform for Action on
high as 60% (Deraniyagala, 1992). reported of being currently abused, 4.7%
Moonesinghe studied physical abuse in a cohort reported of being abused during current of pregnant women in the Badulla district of Sri pregnancy and 2.7% reported of experiencing
2 2
Lanka . A sample of 1200 pregnant women aged current sexual abuse. 15 to 49 years, representative of the district was
selected using a stratified sampling technique.
Salient findings:
Physical abuse:
Abuse during pregnancy:
Current sexual abuse:
Bodily harm:
within the confines of the home, perpetrated by occurred during the current pregnancy.
intimate male partners and other family members Sexual abuse that
(e.g. mother-in-law,sister-in-law). occurred during the year preceding the
To slap, grab, push, punch, pull administration of the screening instrument. hair, hit with hands, twist arm, kick, throttle, Moonesinghe et al. Development of a strangle, strike with an object or weapon and Screening Instrument to Detect Physical Abuse
burning. and its use in a Cohort of Pregnant Women In Sri
To commit unwanted sexual acts Lanka. Asia Pac J Public Health 2004;16 through threats, intimidation or physical force. (2);138-144.
The prevalence of abuse was considered in four ! More than 50% of women were abused on
categories: one occasion during the current pregnancy.
Half of the women experienced current Bodily harm that occurred sexual abuse on one occasion. Almost one-anytime during the entire period of marriage or fourth of the women experienced current
cohabitation. physical or sexual abuse in two to three
Figure 1: Prevalence of abuse in a cohort of pregnant women in Badulla district, Sri Lanka, 2004
Percentage
Ever abuse [n=219] Current abuse
[n=127] pregnancy [n=56]Abuse during Current sexualabuse [n=32] 18.3
Current abuse (n=127) Abuse during current
pregnancy (n=56) Current sexual abuse(n-32) 30.7
One occasion Two to three occasions Once a month
Figure 2: Distribution of abused women by frequency and category of abuse, Sri Lanka, 2004
1 http://www.searo.who.int/LinkFiles/Reproductive_Health_Profile_violence.pdf
2 Moonesinghe et al. Development of a Screening Instrument to Detect Physical Abuse and its use in a Cohort of Pregnant Women In Sri
! The husbands were the perpetrators in more followed by the mothers-in-law (17%) and than half of the ever-abused women (59%), sisters-in-law (9%). (Figure 3).
Husband Mother-in-law Sister-in-law Father Brother Others 59%
4%
4%
9%
17%
7%
The frequency of the abusers is more than the A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried number of abused women because in some out to determine the prevalence and to identify instances, more than one abuser is abusing a some socio-demographic factors associated with
particular woman. wife beating in the Medical Officer of Health
(MOH) area of Kantale (a rural town) in the The “other” category includes uncles, cousins Trincomalee district of eastern Sri Lanka. A and distant relatives.
random sample of 417 women in the age Moonesinghe et al. Development of a category 18-49 years constituted the sample
3
Screening Instrument to Detect Physical Abuse population . and its use in a Cohort of Pregnant Women In Sri
Lanka. Asia Pac J Public Health 2004;16 (2);138-144.
Source:
Finding of the prevalence and pattern of wife beating in Kantale (Rural town) of Tricomalee
District, Sri Lanka were
1. Prevalence of wife beating : 30% (n=92)
2. Factors that showed a statistically significant association with wife beating 2.1 Early age at marriage (<18 yrs)
2.2 Lower level of education of both the batterer and the victim 2.3 Families with a low income
2.4 Low Standard of Living Index (SLI) of < 3 2.5 Families with a greater number of children
2.6. Higher level of alcohol consumption by the batterer
3 Subramaniam et al. The Prevalence and Pattern of Wife Beating in the Trincomalee District in Eastern Sri Lanka. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health Vol. 32 No. 1 March 2001
COUNTRY ACTIVITIES IN COMBATING
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
GWH-SEARO conducted a survey in October questionnaire containing 23 questions under four 2009 among the gender focal points in the WHO clusters. The findings of the survey for Sri Lanka country offices of Member States using a are listed below.
Country Situation Total no. of indicators 12
10 8 6 4 2 0
3 4
10 10
Scale*
Legislations/Policies/
programme Resources Research Evidence**
5 5 4 5
Figure 3: Perpetrators of physical abuse among ever abused women [n=219], Sri Lanka, 2004
Figure 5: Country activities in combating gender-based violence in Sri Lanka, 2009
* The scale represents the country-specific p olicies/programmes (2) resources (3) research situation plotted against the maximum rating for and (4) evidence
! The husbands were the perpetrators in more followed by the mothers-in-law (17%) and than half of the ever-abused women (59%), sisters-in-law (9%). (Figure 3).
Husband Mother-in-law Sister-in-law Father Brother Others 59%
4%
4%
9%
17%
7%
The frequency of the abusers is more than the A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried number of abused women because in some out to determine the prevalence and to identify instances, more than one abuser is abusing a some socio-demographic factors associated with
particular woman. wife beating in the Medical Officer of Health
(MOH) area of Kantale (a rural town) in the The “other” category includes uncles, cousins Trincomalee district of eastern Sri Lanka. A and distant relatives.
random sample of 417 women in the age Moonesinghe et al. Development of a category 18-49 years constituted the sample
3
Screening Instrument to Detect Physical Abuse population . and its use in a Cohort of Pregnant Women In Sri
Lanka. Asia Pac J Public Health 2004;16 (2);138-144.
Source:
Finding of the prevalence and pattern of wife beating in Kantale (Rural town) of Tricomalee
District, Sri Lanka were
1. Prevalence of wife beating : 30% (n=92)
2. Factors that showed a statistically significant association with wife beating 2.1 Early age at marriage (<18 yrs)
2.2 Lower level of education of both the batterer and the victim 2.3 Families with a low income
2.4 Low Standard of Living Index (SLI) of < 3 2.5 Families with a greater number of children
2.6. Higher level of alcohol consumption by the batterer
3 Subramaniam et al. The Prevalence and Pattern of Wife Beating in the Trincomalee District in Eastern Sri Lanka. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health Vol. 32 No. 1 March 2001
COUNTRY ACTIVITIES IN COMBATING
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
GWH-SEARO conducted a survey in October questionnaire containing 23 questions under four 2009 among the gender focal points in the WHO clusters. The findings of the survey for Sri Lanka country offices of Member States using a are listed below.
Country Situation Total no. of indicators 12
10 8 6 4 2 0
3 4
10 10
Scale*
Legislations/Policies/
programme Resources Research Evidence**
5 5 4 5
Figure 3: Perpetrators of physical abuse among ever abused women [n=219], Sri Lanka, 2004
Figure 5: Country activities in combating gender-based violence in Sri Lanka, 2009
* The scale represents the country-specific p olicies/programmes (2) resources (3) research situation plotted against the maximum rating for and (4) evidence
S.No. Category
Activities
1. Legislation/policies and The country has legislation, a health
programmes on GBV multi-sectoral action plan on GBV.
2. Resources for combating GBV The following resources are available:
! Specific guidelines for health providers. ! Workshops and training for health providers. ! Activities on gender mainstreaming for prevention
of GBV.
! Use of One-Stop Crisis Centre services (OSCC). ! Data collection system for GBV at NGOS ,legal
aid centres , social support centres and at police stations
! IEC materials on GBV for communities.
! Facilities for helping the victims of GBV in the
police stations, legal aid centres, social support groups, shelter homes, counselling centres, religious leaders' groups and self-help groups.
3. Research on GBV The country has given full compliance to five typical
activities:
(1) research on the cause, consequences and effective prevention measures for GBV
(2) findings on GBV
(3) Findings on types of GBV
(4) findings related to the cause of GBV and (5) findings related to women's health due to GBV.
4. Evidence on GBV Findings on female genital mutilation/cutting are
present *
* The score for female genital mutilation in Sri Hausmann R, Tyson LD, Zahidi S. The
Lanka is zero according to the global gender gap global gender gap report 2009. Geneva: World
report 2009, Geneva. Economic Forum, 2009.
Source: helpers have been found to be the victims of
physical, psychological, sexual and emotional GBV. sexual, emotional and economic forms.
physical, psychological, sexual, emotional
Causes of GBV and economic forms.
! Increasing participation of women in the
! GBV in more than or equal to 15-year-olds public arena, joblessness, jealousy, dowry- exists in physical, psychological, sexual,
related issues, communication gap and emotional and economic forms.
patriarchal family systems have been found to
Female genital mutilation/cutting
be the causes of GBV.
! Female genital mutilation and cutting exists
Findings related to women’s health after GBV
in Sri Lanka. ! Mental disturbances, suicide, attempts at
suicide, abortion and miscarriages, disability
PARTNERSHIP IN COMBATING GBV
Government initiatives
Civil society organization initiatives
including local NGOs, international NGOs, UN agencies, donor agencies and government ! One-Stop-Crisis-Centres (OSCC) are being representation.
run by the government in government Women’s Empowerment (MoCDWE) is
sphere of violence against women, with the trying to support the establishment of a data
majority focusing on domestic violence. unit and a national GBV database to address a
Some NGOs have collaborated with the state long-felt need for GBV data disaggregated by
sector to address the issue by providing gender, sex, age, ethnicity, and location.
resources in terms of their expertise and ! The Forum against GBV facilitates greater inputs to planning and documentation of the
coordination, understanding and sharing of issue. information and resources and strengthens
! NGOs like Women in Need (WIN) have multisectoral responses to GBV. The
established counselling desks at police membership of the forum is broad-based
S.No. Category
Activities
1. Legislation/policies and The country has legislation, a health
programmes on GBV multi-sectoral action plan on GBV.
2. Resources for combating GBV The following resources are available:
! Specific guidelines for health providers. ! Workshops and training for health providers. ! Activities on gender mainstreaming for prevention
of GBV.
! Use of One-Stop Crisis Centre services (OSCC). ! Data collection system for GBV at NGOS ,legal
aid centres , social support centres and at police stations
! IEC materials on GBV for communities.
! Facilities for helping the victims of GBV in the
police stations, legal aid centres, social support groups, shelter homes, counselling centres, religious leaders' groups and self-help groups.
3. Research on GBV The country has given full compliance to five typical
activities:
(1) research on the cause, consequences and effective prevention measures for GBV
(2) findings on GBV
(3) Findings on types of GBV
(4) findings related to the cause of GBV and (5) findings related to women's health due to GBV.
4. Evidence on GBV Findings on female genital mutilation/cutting are
present *
* The score for female genital mutilation in Sri Hausmann R, Tyson LD, Zahidi S. The
Lanka is zero according to the global gender gap global gender gap report 2009. Geneva: World
report 2009, Geneva. Economic Forum, 2009.
Source: helpers have been found to be the victims of
physical, psychological, sexual and emotional GBV. sexual, emotional and economic forms.
physical, psychological, sexual, emotional
Causes of GBV and economic forms.
! Increasing participation of women in the
! GBV in more than or equal to 15-year-olds public arena, joblessness, jealousy, dowry- exists in physical, psychological, sexual,
related issues, communication gap and emotional and economic forms.
patriarchal family systems have been found to
Female genital mutilation/cutting
be the causes of GBV.
! Female genital mutilation and cutting exists
Findings related to women’s health after GBV
in Sri Lanka. ! Mental disturbances, suicide, attempts at
suicide, abortion and miscarriages, disability
PARTNERSHIP IN COMBATING GBV
Government initiatives
Civil society organization initiatives
including local NGOs, international NGOs, UN agencies, donor agencies and government ! One-Stop-Crisis-Centres (OSCC) are being representation.
run by the government in government Women’s Empowerment (MoCDWE) is
sphere of violence against women, with the trying to support the establishment of a data
majority focusing on domestic violence. unit and a national GBV database to address a
Some NGOs have collaborated with the state long-felt need for GBV data disaggregated by
sector to address the issue by providing gender, sex, age, ethnicity, and location.
resources in terms of their expertise and ! The Forum against GBV facilitates greater inputs to planning and documentation of the
coordination, understanding and sharing of issue. information and resources and strengthens
! NGOs like Women in Need (WIN) have multisectoral responses to GBV. The
established counselling desks at police membership of the forum is broad-based
Country Contact Information:
Dr. Sarojini Manikarajah. National Consultant
WHO Country Office Sri Lanka GPN 24660
Tel: +94-11-2502319
E-mail: manikarajahs@searo.who.int
Produced by:
Gender, Women and Health (GWH) Department of Family Health and Research
World Health Organization, Regional Office for South-East Asia World Health House, Indraprastha Estate
Mahatma Gandhi Marg, New Delhi-110002 Phone: 91 11 23370804, Ext 26301
Fax: 91-11-23379507, 23379395, 23370197 Email: suchaxayap@searo.who.int
! NGOs like Sarvodaya, WIN and CENWOR Through facilitating the participation of over
have been involved in addressing GBV issues 45 women NGO representatives to the NGO
in different ways. Forum in 1995 (Beijing) the SLWNGOF has
built up a network of over 60 NGOs around ! Taking a very positive and pragmatic step the country.
forward in bringing information to the
women of Sri Lanka, the Centre for Women’s ! A drop-in centre such as “Diri Daru Piyasa” Research (CENWOR) launched an electronic established in 2004 conducts counseling for
resource pack on Combating violence against victims of GBV along with income
women and on Social Harmony on the 9th of generation activities for the GBV victims. March 2009.
! NGOs along with UNFPA have initiated
! The Sri Lanka Women's NGO Forum gender-responsive programmes and
(SLWNGOF) formed in 1993 has been interventions to counter gender-based
![Figure 3: Perpetrators of physical abuse among ever abused women [n=219], Sri Lanka, 2004](https://thumb-ap.123doks.com/thumbv2/123dok/2528605.1654088/4.666.115.550.160.434/figure-perpetrators-physical-abuse-abused-women-sri-lanka.webp)
