Page 1
About The Women's Charter
The Women's Charter is
alist of human rights and gender equality commitments accepted by the government as guidelines for legislation and development in the public and private Sectors, and in the public and private lives of women. Drafted in 1992, and of ficially approved by the government on March 3, 1993, it is based on the United Nations' Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) which was ratified in Sri Lanka in 1981. The incorporation of CEDAW into the Sri Lankan Constitution places an international obligation on this country to guarantee and implement gender equality.
The Charter is divided into two parts. Part I lists the rights that should be accorded to women to address all forms of gender discrimination, Subdivided into the following sectors: Political and Civil Rights, Rights within the Family, Right to Education and Training, Right to Economic Activity & Benefits, Right to Health Care & Nutrition, Right to Protection from Social Discrimination
and Right to Protection from
(conta page 2)
The WOI
How Car Women'9 Char tive? WikaSha, three Women'e viz; Wornen’S KeSearch Cent en’S ReSearC front and Voice vened an Open March 1996 to international W Conference, ent Worner1's Cha 6trument of C. tended by the c of the WC, NC tives, WOrner16C feөөionala, ana no 6t of whic talks or each Charter. The p lighted what t accomplished equalitie6 ano main unchang torS of : pol rights, family, r1 Orr1 iC a Ctiviti
Crirr1iration a lence. Many ie ered including r1 FTZ workers, a
Pravahini Vol.4 No.2
 
 

JULY 1996
men's Charter as an Instrument of
Change 修
1 we nake the ter more effeCa COr16ortiurn of , organisationa Education and re, Muslim Womh and ACtion e Of Women, COn
forurr1 On 16th
) COr111161 Orate lonen's Day. The titled "Using the rter a 6 an Inhange," waS atoriginal drafters 90 representacholarS and proinvited guests, om presented 6ection of the resenters highhe Charter had
and what ininjustices reed in the 6eCitical and Civil education, ecoee, 6ocial diesnd dender vio
39 LU695 W6er62 COVnigrant workers, CCess to credit
and technology, gender roles in
school Curricula, abortion, rape,
maternity leave, etc. AIl participated in round-table dis
cussions, sharing ideas. On how
beet to translate the Char
tere objectives into Concrete
action to improve the lives of
all Sri Lankan woner1.
Dr. Wimala de 6ilva, ExeCutive Director of the National Committee for Women (NCW), opened the Conference by reCOunting the history of the WC and the NCW, and to what extent the mandate has been fullfilled. Although the NCW is recOgnised as an official advisor to the Minister in charge of Wornen's Affair6, and all the Con1mittee members are appointed (conta on page 2)
C O N T ENTS.
* Wonen's Charter
* Bookshelf * WERC Projects
* Editor's Page * Staff News * The Internet * Revealing
* Numbers

Page 2
Instrument of Change.
cont2d: by the President, the NCW works on a skeletor1 budget without support staff. Only recently did the government allocate money to relocate the NCW headquarters out of Dr. de silva's private residence. The aOvernment's heel-dragging in respect of financial support for the NCW seen16 to be reflective of their lackadaisical attitude in pushing the WC into legislative authority.
An advisory board was called to strengthen the NCW and bypass bureaucratic circles, This would be a group of women comprieing human righte activists, journalist6, lawyers, eduCators, and representatives from women's groups who would "make noise," something the NCW Cannot officially do.
The Con6en6u6 of all participants was unanimous: the effectivenese of the WC as an authority for Creating lasting change is dependent upon its 6tatus as a legal document. "The Women's Charter is not a legally binding document, unlike the Worker's Charter. We need a legal document to challenge existing laws," said Kamani Muttetuwagama, a lawyer who presented to the panela Commentary on the legal aspects of the Charter. Currently, the WC is just an agenda of gender rights that the government is not legally bound to follow.
Some F
米 Won
tled had job a
米 Abo to th
CeSt.
水 Mini
years
sk Grev
米 Rape marit
gang ment
冰 New maxi
porno child
The disc
r1Ore ar1 irr1ated Called for a loh 1) pressurise into ratifying 2) be political dressina genc and injust Muttetuwagat important poi tution has r1 lenged on the discrimination force to rati Charter "migh leeCe into a rez rr1er1t ir1 3ri La

ositive Changes in Legislation Since the
Drafting of the Women's Charter
en with children born outside of marriage are entio maternity leave. Previously, women would have o obtain a report of rape by the police to keep her nd receive maternity leave.
tion was legal only when there was a physical risk : mother. Now extended to cases of rape and in
of consent increased to 16 years (was 12 years).
mum age of marriage raised from 12 years to 18
for all non-Muslim communities.
ious hurt expanded to include child molestation.
now applies to married but separated couples, but
al rape is still legal. The term "rape" also includes rape, custodial rape, rape of the physically and ally disabled and rape by a public employee.
penal offences include: incest which can receive a mum of 20 years in prison, sexual harassment, child graphy, and grievous sexual abuse (which includes
ren as victims).
useion teCarr1e | aS participantS bying force to the government the WC and
leverage in adder inequalities iCe6. M6. na nade a very 1t: the Cor16tiver been chalbasis of gender and a lobbying y the Women's t actually COaworner's move1ka."
Women's Charter....
cont'd.
Gender-Based Violence. Part II establishes the NCW and its purpose and duties: to examine "progress made on the realisation of this Charter and formonitoring the achievement of its objectives"
(Women's Charter Part II, 17.1)
To view a copy of the Women's Charter come to Women's Education and Research Centre library!
Pravahimi Vol.4 No.2

Page 3
BOOKSHELF
HERE ARE SOME RECENT ACQUISITIONS TO WERC'S
LIBRARY:
THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF WOMEN'S STUDES
By Giri Raj Shah Volumes l & 2,828 pages Gyan Publishing HouseNewDelhi 100002. (1995)
Informative text on women's issues such as status, history, crime, marriage, economic aspects, laws, etc. Aspects of family, dowry, divorce, sexual violence, religious and social constraints are dealt with in detail.
• POWER AND DECSION: THE SOCIAL CONTROL OF REPRODUCTION
By Gita Sen and Rachel C. Snow 348 pages with references and notes AHarvard Series on Population and International
Health Harvard University Press, Boston (1994)
This book provides an analysis of how disparate policies, seeming unrelated to production, are implicitly "pro-natalist" or "anti-natalist." It also explores the current legal, economic, political and scientific trends for gender relations and women's health.
A TREATSE ON THE LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF THE SINHALESE INCLUDING IPORTIONS STILL SURVIVED UNDER THE NAME KANDYAN
LAW
By Frederic Austin Hayley XLV, 108 pages, appendices Navrang, New Delhi (1993)
In this book, the author explains the legal customs of the Sihalese with a statement of the Kandyan Law in the early part of the 20th century. It contains appendices of Simon Sawer's Memoranda, Notes of Early Decisions, Examples of Deeds, etc. This book is a detailed reference source for Kandyan Law and useful for students and academics.
Pravahini Vol.4 No.2 O3

Gender and Education
On one of our trips to Trincomalee to meet with the Women of Female Headed Householes we came across Pushpalathaa 12 year old girl.
Her father was killed in one of the violentincidents in Trincomalee. We were grieved to realize that Pushpalatha has also been turned a bread-winner. She sells curd in the market twice a week to supplement her mother's earnings and so she had to stay away from school, 2 days a week. Being a girl education was considered not that important. The equation of poverty and gender should not however, be missed here.
The staff of WERC discussed Pushpalatha and decided that we should do something to uplift her from the predicament she has been pushed into.
We made a collection and opened an Account in her name in the Bank, so that she could get monthly what she earnsby Selling curd. She could then attend School regularly and be relieved of the burden of earning for the family.
We have solicited the help of the Principal of the school and Some community leaders to ensure her regular attendance at school. We are happy that she is now attending school regularly and there are signs and symptoms that she has reclaimed her childhood.
CAll foR REsEA Rch MATERiAl
WERC is presently engaged in a research on the missionary activities uvith regard to uomen's education in the north of Sri Lanka. We shall be happy to buy or borrouy any relevant material available - old neups papers, journals, magazines eC.,
PleAsE conTAcT us.

Page 4
WERC PROJECTS
Female-headed Households in Sri Lanka
WERC is carrying out the first comprehensi country have left many women as widows and there projectare to determine 1) the number offemale-h andchildren and the communities in which they live and legally 3) how these women cope with such a contrast the experiences of individual women. WE The initial desk research has been completed. Th Monaragala in the South, Trincomalee and Ampara This project will highlight the issue to the governm betterbasis for development and humanitarian prog basis of an Oxfam publication.
Emerging Ethnic Consciousness of the U
WERC is also engaged in a research projec in the process of searching for a national identity in ethnic group is a moot point. The Study is now co population with a historical perspective, with a spec women in the group. The study is now in the secon The year-long project commenced in January 19 WERC. . . r
Opening of the Multipurpose Building at
The official opening of the multipurpose ha February 21st at 9:00 a.m. Present on this occasio, tor, Ms.C.K. Abayaratna-Executive Secretary, Ms and the WERC staff. Also present were about 50 The formal group opening was performed by Ms. G mas Bazaar. The Chief Priest presided over the traditional oil lamp was lit.
Ms. Kumari Wickramasingha, speaking onb the project. As far back as 1990 a project had bee the women of the "canal row" along Gregory's Ave resettled in Obeyesekerapura. Two students of the asurvey with these resettled women, requested WE sation of a self employment project for the wome unable to progress with their self-employment prog
O

ve study on this topic. The political conflicts in this fore the breadwinners of the family. The goals of the eaded households islandwide 2) how these women are affected psychologically, Socially, economically, relatively unorthodox role, and 4) to compare and RC's project coordinator is Ms. Vinodini de Silva. he areas selected for research are Hambantota and in the East and Mulativuthe and Jaffna in the North. ent, NGOs, donors and the media. It can provide a grammes targeting women, with the aim of being the
p Country Tamils and its Implications:
tin Up Country. Whether women are participating a conscious effort to define themselves as a separate oncentrating on social changes of the Up Country ial focus on the Social, economic and political role of d stage in the Nuwara Eliya and Maskeliya districts. 96, and the will findings be published in Tamil by
: Obeyesekerapura:
ll built by WERC at Obeyesekerapura was heldon n were Dr. Selvy Thiruchandran-Executive Direcs Vinodini de Silva - Coordinator, Obeyesekerapura Women from the Women's Comittee of the village. eorgiana Hidramani, the representative of the Christproceedings. After the observance of pansil, the
ehalf of WERC, gave abriefoutline of the history of n undertaken by Dr. Kumari Jayawardena to uplift nus, Colombo 7. Subsequently, these women were Social Service Department who wished to carry out 'RCtomonitorit. The Surveyrelulted in the organin. In due course it was found that the women were grammes because they had to look.
(contal on page 5)
Pravahimi Vol.4 No.2

Page 5
WOMEN AND WO
"HAVE you MANyckildren?" The doctoR AskEd. "God ANSWEREd.
"DoEs your wife work?" "No, she stAys AT HoME."
"I SEE. How doES she speNd HER dAy?" "Well, she GETS fire ANd cooks breAkfAST. THEN she goes To The RiveR ANd wA ANd buys whAT we NEEd in THE MARkET. THEN she cooks The M
"You coME koME AT MiddAy?" "No, No. SkiE bRiNGSTk
"ANdAfteRTkAT?" "WEll, she TAkES CARE of The HENs. A TheN SHE pREpARES suppER So ThAT iT is REAdy wheN coMEk
"DoEsskE Go To bed AfER suppER?" "No. I do. Sh "But you sAyyour wife doesN'T work?" "No, I Told you. SkiE STAys AT HoME."
SouRcE: Wow EN Awd Developau Ewr Resouance Puck, TkE CAT koll
FORMISOFWIOLENCEAGAINSTWOMEN
PSYCHOLOGICAL: ISOLATION, RESTRICTING FREEDOM, THREATS, HUMILIATION, ABUSE OF PRIVILEGES, DENIAL OF LOVE AND ATTENTION, DENIAL OF SUPPORT, THREAT OR ACT ABANDONMENT, THREAT OF HARM
ECONOMIC: DESTRUCTION OR SNATCHING OF PROP
ERTY, FORCED DEPENDENCY, NEGLECT OF OTHER PERSON'S NEEDS
SEXUAL: INCEST, MOLESTATION, FORCED SEXUAL ACTIVITY, INAPPROPRIATE SEXUAL ATTENTION, UN
WANTED TOUCHING OR INTERCOURSE AFTER ASSAULT
PHYSICAL: PUSHING; SHOVING; PUNCHING; SLAPPING; THE USE OF ARMS, FEET, OBJECTS OR WEAPONS FOR DISCIPLINE; PERSONAL CONTROLS ON CLOTHING,
BEHAVIOUR, ASSOCIATION AND ACTION
TAKEN FROM GLADYS GWASHURE, PROGRAM DIREC. TOR, MUSASA PROJECT, AT THE SEMINAR ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, 31 AUGUST - 3 SEPTEMBER 1993, AT HARARE, ZIMBABWE. SOURCE: SPEAK OUT/TAURAI, KHULUMANI , NO. 27, 1994: WOMEN'S ACTION GROUP,PO BOX135, HARARE ZIMBABWE.
Pravahini Vol.4 No.2

RK A MAN'S VIEW
HAs Not beeN Good To ME. Of sixTEEN boRN, only NiNE live," HE
Up AT four in The MoRNiNG, fETchESWATER ANd wood, MAkES The shes clothes. AFER ThAT she GOES To TowN TO GET CORN GROUNd iddAy MEA."
E MEAl To ME in The fields - AbouTThREE kilomeTERs froM HoME.
Nd pigs. ANd, of couRSE, she looks After The childreN All day. OME."
E HAS Things To do ARouNd TE HOUSE UNTil NiNE o'clock."
: Fund for OveRSEAs DEvElopMENT, London.
Obeyesekerapura... (conta from page 4) :
after their children at home. It was felt that a Nursery School and Day Care Centre was needed. WERC then appealed to Christmas BaZaar, an organisation of foreign funders, who agreed to finance the project. The financial aid thus received was gratefully acknowledged while the support received to complete the building from the community and the monks of the temple was highly appreciated.
Ms. Hidramani said she was happy to be present to see the building project completed. Christmas Bazaar was pleased to have been of assistance for such a worthy cause and Ms. Haidramani was hopeful that the building would be put to good use.
Mr. Premasiri, Speaking on behalf of thẻ community, appreciated WERC's concern for these marginalized women and promised the whole-hearted support of the community. The Chief Priest, concluding the day's programme, thanked the representatives of the community for their presence and their support, and WERC for their interest in the community.
OS

Page 6
EDITOR'S PAGE
byguest editor: Dana Quante
Freedom and the Woman
"Freedom is a State of Mind" is a song from the musical "Shenandoah," set in Civil War America. In the performance, it is sung by a male African slave, a white woman, and a child. The song is an expression of self-empowerment and metaphysical independence from the dominant culture. The irony lies in the physical reality that: AfricanAmericans did not attain full human rights until the 1960's; women did not attain full franchise until the Suffragette Movement culminated in the 1921 Admendment to the Constitution: and children in America continue to be victims of child abuse, molestation, and violence. But America has proved that passionate and peaceful solidarity, even in the face of real violent reprisal, as happened during the Civil Rights Movement, can create lasting change.
What is "freedom" and "independence" for women? I realized what independence is from my contact with Sri Lankan women who work and support their families. Independence is choosing and creating your own destiny even if it contradicts societal norms. It is not just a "state of mind" but a way of life. For feminists, gays and minorities in America, such choice is not without fear of societal criticism, or even physical attack. Yet these groups persist and grow stronger, especially as political lobbyists, because they act in solidarity. The sheer numbers - combined, they make up over 50% of the populationtranslate into voting power. Their media coverage is extensive because of the ways they create news in the forms of marches and rallies. In 1992, over three-quarters of a million gays, lesbians and bisexuals marched on Washington DC to petition for civil rights denied them. It dispelled the claim by the conservative right that the gay population was only a marginal percentage of the entire popula
tion. (It is now 10% by Gay Rig This march was tal in creating aw ticipants were als experience.
The Natio Women (NOW)h 1995 to publicize Violence Against Therally was ins ing Congress ni Gingrich's medie posals. Last year American men ma ton to promote fe pride and empow ently white-maleThe psychologica among thousands yourself is the fe strength and renew your group.
So may b lyric would be: "Fr a Collective of Mi nal lyric implies th tolerated if one th Taken by itself, "fr mind" is the old ke sive philosophy b and separates an one's peers and fi sors. It addresses o out acknowledging ity of one's outer li ists and thrives wi lationships. Free only on how you but how others per can change their se their role in societ tortoise pace if } change their perce
In fact, SriL this dilemma of pas and active-outer f Sri Lankan societ very limited defini be a woman: fem obedient, demure, Yet this same socio mitted to economic a war that leaves ma
(

believed to exceed its Organizations). Ot only instrumeneness, but the parempowered by the
al Organization for ld a protest rally in the many forms of Women in America. rumental in swayit to ratify Newt 'al legislation proa million Africanrched on Washinglings of solidarity, rmentina persistlominated society. l impact of being of people just like eling of euphoric ed committmentto
e a more realistic eedom is a State of nds," for the origiat injustice can be inks one is "free." eedom is a state of ep-the-victim-pasecause it isolates individual from om one's oppreshe's inner life withthe empirical reale. Human life exthin a nexus of relom depends not berceive yourself, eive you. Women lf-perception, but I will change at a (hen do not also tion of women.
ankan women face ive-inner freedom eedom everyday. norms accept a on of what it is to nine, dependent, nd self-sacrifing. y, which is comliberalization and ly women as refu
gees and/or breadwinnners of the family, expects women to adapt to these new challenges - requiring them to be assertive, independent, and brave - while still maintaining traditional female gender roles and appearance. It must be very confusing to receive such mixed messages, especially for working class and rural women.
The women of Sri Lanka today have no role models to deal with these new expectations. They are the living models for the next generation, independence pioneers, so to speak. And if these independent Sri Lankan women continue to work in solidarity to create awareness of the "independence processs" and to empower each other, then the next generation of women might have the luxury of taking personal freedom for granted.
Ohtobeanindependent woman
(excerpt from an article by Punyakante Wijenaike in The Weekend Express, 20/l/ 96)
"...to be a woman who can live with dignity, confidence and freedom so enjoyed by a man, she has to have the following rights:
to be able to walk the streets alone in dignity, without being looked at or dragged somewhere and raped.
to be able to walk unafraid into a police station alone and lodge a complaint
to be able to enjoy a meal alone in a restaurant or with a member of the opposite sex
to be permitted to enjoy solitude by the sea or in a cinema
to be taken seriously when she voices an opinion on general matters
to travel by public transport without harassment
to drive a car on a public road without being pushed off the road by a male driver or driven mad by his tooting"
Pravahini Vol.4 No.2

Page 7
The Woman's Guide to the Internet
"During the past decade, advances in information technology have facilitated a global communications network that transcends national boundaries and has an impact on public policy, private attitudes and behaviour, especially of children and youngadults. Everywhere the potential exists for the media to make a far greater contribution to the advancementofwomen."
from the Beijing Declaration and PlaisOrn for Action (Une dited Advanced Text), item J. 234
The Internetis a rapidly growing "Network of Computer Networks' comprising about 50 million computers in over 150 countries encompassing various sectors, including Commerce, Finance, Education, Research, Entertainment and Communications.
from Lanka Internet
The Internet can be a valuable research tool for academic and business women that is extremely easy to use, even if you have never touched a computer before. Imagine accessing information from NGO's from around the world; sources of funding; fellowships and higher education in other countries; papers and the latest information on women's studies, economic development, religion, statistics, health, etc.
The Internet can also bring you to Newsgroups which are discussion fora on specific topics (such as philosophy or women studies). You could discuss any topic with academics from around the world and acquire hard-to-find information from researchers in your discipline.
There are two Internet cafes in
Pravahini Vol.4 No.2
STAE
The
Mr. Cyril Su Mr.Amirtha
STAFFTRIP:
The W 1996 to the very pleasan Selvy Thiruc staff membe
After enjoy thems the pool enjo while others
more energe
A Sun ciated by all few indoorg were served really relaxir
Were ice we recei Aberatne the
Colombo with friel you the basics of The Surfboard at th is impervious to po Cyber Cafe on Ur from Staples Stree hour you could be like a pro. By "NetSearch" on the you can just type such as "Women's long list of sites topic. Some inter sites I have found dress underlined):

F NEWS
Welcome into our Women's Centre. two men who are willing to be converted.
dhaharan layagam Nixon
(ERC staff went on their annual trip on 2nd March Wadduwa Holiday Resort, spending the day in the t surroundings. Ms. Bernadine Silva, Director, Dr. handran, Executive Director, and present and former rs made up the group of 15.
he welcome drink, everyone proceeded to relax and elves. Before long the younger members were in ying a cool dip. Some were flying high on the swings relaxed in the shade chatting with each other. The tic ones migrated from the pool to the sea.
uptuous lunch awaited us which was greatly appre... We then retired to a cool verandah and played a games organized by the Committee. Cake and tea in the evening and we left the Resort having spent a ng day.
cord with appreciation the ready attention and servved from the Resort.and we say Thankyou to Ms.
cehief organiser of the rendezvous.
ndly staff to teach
o Women's Net - www.igc.apc.org/ "surfing the net":
womensnet - deals with the Beijing
he Galadari (which Conference • South Asia Women's wercus) andThe Net - www.umiacs.umd.edu/users/
lion Place (across t). Within a half searching the Net using the icon computer screen, in a general topic Studies" and get a dedicated to that
sawweb/sawnet
Women's Issues via Washington Web - www.wash web.net:8000 washweb/community/women - a good index of Women's sites on the Internet.
esting and useful are (Internet ad
I hope you try it! More women should have access and fluency with information technology. Good Luck

Page 8
LIII w.c
LIBRARY SERVICE
Weekdays and Saturdays: 8:30am to 4:30p
Books, Periodicals, Video-Cassettes and
Documented Newspaper Clippings are available in English. Sinhala and Tamil.
Special Arcas: Social Sciences including Women's Studies. History and Mass Media
Revealing Numbers....
Women perform an estimated 60 per cent of the world's work but own only one per cent of the world's land and earn just 10 per cent of the world's income.
Women constitute nearly 60 percent of the world's one billion poor; of the one third billion people living in absolute poverty in the world today, over 70 per cent are women.
• US $11 trillion is missing from the global economy each year because of unaccounted for and unpaid housework, childcare, agricultural and other labour performed by women.
Wages for women lag behind those for men for similar work in all countries (the average is 30 to 40 per cent less than men for comparable work).
Women work longer hours than men in almost all countries; they put in 12 percent more time than men in market activities and household work taken together.
Call For Papers:
In rural areas of tries as many hours versus 0.9 hou fuelwood and wate
Women accountf production in deve
• One-fourth of fa are headed by wol million women are worldwide.
o About one-fifth wide experience sc mestic violence du
o Women and thei stitute 80 per cent million refugees.
o Women are often
disappearance and as a weapon of wal role in decisions le other conflicts but tain families in suc
from Femina, Vol. 36 l page 22.
"WE invite REAdeRs To subMiT pApERs suit.Able for (WERC Jou RNAls which ARE publiskEd bİANNUAll'
* MANUSCRipTs on GENdeR issues could be subMiTT PublicArion costs will be boRNE by WoMEN's Ed
08

We are located in Wellawatte:
Women's Education and Research Centre 58 Dharmarama Road
590985 or 595296
Colombo 6 Sri Lanka
Our new auditorium/seminar facilitics are available on hire for your next mCcting or conferencC.
developing counas men (9.7 hours rs), collecting
.
or half of the food loping countries.
milies worldwide men. • About 3.4 battered each year
of women worldme degree of doing marriage.
dependents conof the world's 23
victims of torture, systematic rape . They have little ading to wars and are left to mainh situations.
No. 23, Dec. 8, 1995,
News of the National Committe for Women
NCW has organised the Post Beijing National Plan of Action on women which has appointed Sectoral Committes to deal with the following areas:
Violence Against Women Human Rights and Armed Conflict Economic Activities and Poverty Alleviation
Education and Training
Health
Environment
Media Political Participation and Decision Making Institutional Strengthening
The Committees comprise persons with Outstanding experience and expertise in these areas ofcritical concern. Their proposals are being evaluated and finalised by theNCW.
publicArioN İN THE ENqlish/Si NHALA/TAM il NivEdi Ni , (Jun E ANd DECEMbER).
Ed for publishing To THE PublicATions CoMM iTTEE.
CATioN ANd RESEARch CENTRE (WERC).
Pravahini Vol.4 No.2,
Printing: Karunaratne & Sons Ltd.