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recognize
me
safeguard
the rights
of
war affected
women
Lessons learnt
and the facts
unearthed
through
4 district
dialogues
rightsnow
Collective for Democracy
Forum for woman and
development
2
l meeting
The inaugura en
held betwe
Rights
the Human
and Civil
Commission
anizations.
Society Org
dagama -
Dr. Deepika U
Human Rights
Chairperson of
Commission of
Sri Lanka,
unawardane -
Sudarshana G
aw, Shyamala
Attorney-at-L
ika Perera
Gomes and Sum
During
the district
dialogue in
ura
Anuradhap
gues also
District dialo
rkshops
included wo
ing media
on develop skills
Galle
3
Introduction
A dream
that
look for a
name
Of course, we are the women affected
by the war. But what do we call the
struggle we make to survive after that
menace
A widow of a fallen soldier in Galle
Rights Now and FOKUS WOMEN decided to address the issues faced by women living
in the South who are affected by the war instead of North and East that were severely
affected. Our two organizations believe that engaging on a dialogue about the war
affected women in the mostly forgotten South is very important, as their role would be
vital in a backdrop where dialogues are being held on national reconciliation.
There are two kinds of women in the south who were affected by the war:
1. Widows of soldiers died in the war and wives of disabled soldiers.
2. Women lived in areas directly affected by the war.
Our discussions mainly focused on these two groups. We also hope to hold discussions
with Muslim women who are displaced and live in large numbers in various areas in the
south. However, this report would not accommodate their views.
If the women affected by the war are to be a part of the reconciliation process,
there should be a state sponsored mechanism that is able to solve their day to day
livelihoods problems as well as issues they face related to their rights. When these
women become a group that receives the protection of the state, skepticism they have
over state sponsored Reconciliation activities would be allayed.
We were motivated to launch an activity to safeguard the rights of these women to
achieve following objectives:
1. Urging those women to obtain the protection of independent commissions exist in
the country to solve their day to day issues.
2. Improving their abilities in communication and using media in order to share their
experiences with the society at large with their own voices.
Accordingly, discussions of war affected women were organized in Anuradhapura,
Kurunegala, Galle and Katunayaka areas in which officers from the Human Rights
Commission also participated. We met women who were directly affected by the war
while we also met widows of military personals killed in the war, and wives of disabled
soldiers in Kurunegala and Galle. In Katunayaka we talked with military widows as
well as wives of disabled soldiers who work in the factories in the Free Trade Zone
in Katunayaka. Programs were also included to enhance their communication skills.
We selected 25 women from them and provided further training in the Kothmale
Media Training Academy of the SLBC on communication, effective use of language and
handling communication equipments.
It is not amazing that these helpless women were neglected from the benefits of
governments relief organizations and the legal systems. The bureaucratic red tape as
well as the hectic lives they lead fulfilling their social duties as widows of soldiers or
as wives of disabled soldiers lead to this situation. Moreover, relief organizations,
too, overlooked these women due to lack of a voice, lobbying or advocacy. Even after
08 long years, many of the problems of these despondent females have not been
addressed let alone are solved. Ironically many new problems are sprouting for them
at present due to their vulnerability. And no known mechanism has been created to
address them.
If the contribution of the women affected by the war could be secured for fortifying
widely spoken initiatives such as democracy, human rights, rule of law, economic
development etc, it would be a significant achievement not only for those women, but
also for everyone who is advocating for a progressive reform. We, at present, are able
to identify several strategies that could be utilized in the country as follows:
1. The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka displayed a profound concern since the
very beginning in this regard. This concern could be invested for an effort to establish a
mechanism to help women affected by the war with the participation of these women
and civil society led by the Human Rights Commission.
2. The voice of these women should be directed to the mainstream by using Right to
Information Act and mass media as this is a time in which matters such as freedom of
expression, right for information are being largely discussed.
3. Efforts should be made to urge the proposed reconciliation process to account the
rights issues faced by the war-affected women.
4. The socio-political barriers in womens political representation should be removed
in order to reap maximum benefit from the structural changes that are being made to
increase female involvement in active politics.
Initially, we named this program of discussions as Let Us Protect the Rights of the
Women affected by the War. However, the females who came to training workshops
taught us that their grief and the struggle with life cannot be merely summed up with
this title.
their
their
problems
problems
Issues related to pension and other benefits for 25% of the salary of a soldier who died
those served in the armed forces. between 21.11.2007 and 18.05.2009 would
Wage disparities of those who served be paid to his parents provided they are
in forces and retired before 1996 was alive while his widow gets the remaining
removed by a particular circular issue. 75%. When 55 years are completed for the
However, there is a wage disparity for those dead soldier, his widow would only get the
who were retired after 31.12.1996 and 75% even after the death of his parents.
between 01.01.1997 and 2006. Another without adding parents share to the wife.
circular was issued entitled Adjustments
for 2006 with regard to pension disparities. There are two kinds of pension schemes for
It is mentioned in it to pay except for those those who served in the military in the form
who perished and disabled persons in the of pension for the orphans and allowance
armed forces According to this circular, for widows and dependants. When the
the disparity remains only for those in the soldier reaches the age of 55 the wage is
military. According to the 2006 circular stopped and 85% of it would be added to
dead soldiers should be considered as the pension. It is stated in the circular that
they are living and wages should be the living index should be added to the
paid according to their posts until their orphans and widows allowance. However,
55th birthday along with others matters this is not implemented in some districts.
changing every year. Full wage would
be paid regardless of how he died after According to the circular of 21.11.2017
2007. However, there is a large number of when a widow of a soldier remarries a bulk
soldiers who died before 2007 and they are payment would be made worth ten years
not entitled to this benefit. wages and after that all the privileges would
be stopped. No one would be entitled to
wages and benefits after remarriage.
ment
Commence t
of the distric
dialogue f o
Katunayaka
7
A war-
affected
woman
detailing an
injustice of a
on
state instituti
Kothmale
8
During
a district
dialogue
in
G a lle
9
Some of the answers from the district dialogues
Recommendations
Recommendations
District
lso
dialogues a
th e
discussed
TI
impact of R
law in p u b lic
life
ura
Anuradhap
10
Many people do not make use of the Cottage industries and home based
Right to Information Act due to their lack self employments could be introduced
of awareness about the RTI law. Programs to women in rural areas while providing
should be held to increase awareness access to needed resources and markets.
of such acts and on how to benefit from
them, especially for war affected women. Women should be encouraged to capitalize
on their traditional skills as business assets
Legal and counseling service should be and become successful entrepreneurs to
made available to war affected women. sustain their familial and personal needs.
During
discussion
in
Kurun e g a la
11
The letter
e
written to th
media...
Kurunegala
munication
Sharing com
...
experience
Live radio i
woman Mayur
Veteran anchor
.
broadcast.. m an
d anchor
Abeysinghe an
ntha Kumara
Chulabaya Sha
Special thanks
Dr. Deepika Udagama, Chairperson of Kumudini Vithana, Regional Coordinator, Kandy
Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission Regional Office of the Sri Lanka
Menaka Herath, Attorney-at-Law, Human Rights Commission
Director of Education and Special Programs, M. I. Daluwaththa Research Officer, Kandy
Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission Regional Office of the Sri Lanka
Nihal Chandrasiri, Director of Research and Human Rights Commission
Investigations, Sri Lanka Erananda Hettiarachchi
Human Rights Commission Director General of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting
Shiromee Priyanga, Regional Coordinator, Corporation and its staff.
Anuradhapura Regional Office of the Staff of the Media Training Academy of the
Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission SLBC, Kothmale
Daushka Chamal, Education and Data Officer, Sri Lanka Rupawahini Corporation
Anuradhapura Regional Office of the Rupa Gamage, and the staff of the
Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission Rajarata Praja Kendraya
Design by - samabima (www.samabima.com)
Nirosha Ratnayake, Attorney-at-Law Regional Chamila Thushari and the staff of
Coordinator, Matara Regional Office of the Dabidu Collective
Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission Sriyani Pathirage and Kanchana Kodithuwakku
D M R Dissanayake, Research and and the staff of the Rural Womens Front
Investigations Officer, Matara Regional Office Sumika Perera and the staff of the Womens
of the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission Recourse Center
rightsnow
Collective for Democracy
Forum for woman and
development