Page 1
WEZeC SEAMZ IZAZVAVZAZ AVEA
రైళ్ల )) D
The Iraq War
e Iraq war has
T: to the World how
Wars are made in the minds of men. All parts of the world declaimed against the excuse of war to settle international problems. However, while the World howled its protests, marched in demonstrations, called conferences and knelt in prayer, in an attempt to stay another conflict, the US churned out its justification for War against Iraq on its own initiative. It chose to ignore all other possible avenues of bringing down the tyrannical rule of Sadam Hussein. Some of the anti-War reports show how women staged protest actions. It is the experience of all countries that have suffered Wars, that Women and children become victims of War. Women
suffer all the side effects of War
and are directly affected by all the
horrors of War. Women en masse are
anti-War.
Women's protests from across the globe came in different forms. In Australia women in black marched in Adelaide's Victoria Square with banners declaring "No War on Iraq' while Australian leaders took the country into the 'coalition of the willing'. In the U.S itself the women's anti-war campaign named "Women to Women' involved letter writing from women in US to women in Iraq, declaring that they will not participate in war-making efforts against the people of Iraq. In the text of the letter they say.
"As women-as mothers and
daughters, grandmoth as Sis†ers-We are rec you, offering our fr support, and strength alone in the struggle justice.
We pledge to do ever our power to prevent
suffering for you, yo and all of the Iraqip Thousands of signed
collected and present International Women'
Another anti-war call
prominent Japanese W professed solidarity V loving Women and pec world. They called on government to commit stopping the war. The out in January 2003
attack against Iraq', "My Peace Action'. In prayer vigils, press (
tra t4is ,
Editorial . What is neu for Wome An Update on Momen's Polítical Participation. It's about uomen. Shilpa - Intern and frien oooomen's Studies Cours Peace Link to faffna. The Story of Sara Baart Inderstanding CEDA News Around. Life on the other side. Momen erriti from the Bookshelf. MV'ERC Neus.
I
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

SZ, Ź, ZZ ŹŹ
2. 2003
and Women
ers and aunts, ching out to endship,
you are not for peace and
ything within further
ur children, eople." letters were led publicly on S Day.
came from
Jomen who with all peace )ple of the
the Japanese itself to ir appeal sent declared "No
"No War' the Philippines, zonferences and
issue
ఖ
影※ 2
%888 3
roundtable discussions took place seeking to detract President Arroyo from supporting the US. In many other parts of the world - Germany, France, Switzerland, Indonesia, Women joined campaigns to ban US consumer products as an anti-war protest.
"Invest in caring not killing." was the call from the world wide grassroots level network Global Women's Strike (GWS) as they marched in protest against the war. Over 70 countries participated in different locations around the World. In the UK the GWS group conducted a daily picket at the Parliament Square outside Westminster, with an open microphone where everyone could
voice their protests.
The war in spite of the global protests and UN efforts has been waged with an intensity that paid good heed to the most modern War technology and has enacted a world tragedy. Iraqi women and children are still suffering unendingly due to the harshest possible sanctions placed by the US. More than 3,000 Iraqi children die a week it is reported due to lack of health care, many foreign doctors and nurses having left for fear of war.
The Head of the UN Women's Fund
has therefore called on the international community not to forget the needs of the Iraqi women and to recognise the right of Iraqi women to participate in decision making for their future.
Pravahini Volume II No. 2 2003 July

Page 2
7Uhat's new i
ith the "Ce case fire" holding O W for a year and more, and bringing in its wake a "no-war stretch of time, the country's population and especially the women are experiencing a 'new' atmosphere - an air of calm, devoid of fear and anxiety. It is a wonderfully new prospect especially for all women of Sri Lanka who have suffered in varying degree, through 20 years of war, and are now adjusting themselves to a
new life, albeit it with new challenges.
We see the challenge of reconciliation above all others as a basic to preserving the peaceful air we appreciate so much today. For, women North and South and elsewhere were only acclimatised to a war situation and with it to a psychological mind set of mistrust and fear. Hence shedding this fagade and reconciling with the "others' comes almost naturally to women who possess the capacity to instinctively care and share. And so we have seen within these past months an unprecedented flow of humanity from the south to the north and vice versa, a flow of warmth, sympathy and understanding, a nation's bonding of a people cut off from each other in their own mother land. It is on this foundation that our peaceful atmosphere can
Survive and peace processes progress.
Not just new, but a landmark achievement for women, is
the decision to include the gender component in the peace process. Though this aspect did not surface in the early stages of the peace talks there is a clear indication that the gender aspect has been recognised. Subsequently it was announced by the Norwegian government that "a committee of women will be instituted to explore the effective inclusion of gender issues in the peace process." The committee often women activists comprises five from the government and five from the LTTE. They are, Government - Dr. Kumari Jayawardene, Dr. Deepika Uda gama, Kumudini Samuel, Faizun Zackariya, Dr. Fazeela Riyaz and LTTE - Thamalini Subramaniam, Kaca ya Som ca sunder cam, Premilca Som asundaram,
Sulthamathy Sanmugaraja, Yalisai Balasingham.
it is expected that they will submit proposals on women's
interests and concerns, their views and opinions. This
Pravahini Volume II No. 2 - 2003July

or 70omen
levelopment is the outcome of unced sing lobbying by vomen activists over the years especially during the War 'ears, demanding peace. The appointment of this 1dvisory sub committee of women is seen as an Inprecedented step forward gained by them at this point of time when there is an international awareness of the
mportance of women's presence in formal peace egotiations. It envisions a hopeful future for women's articipation not in the peace process alone but elsewhere
is well.
*ollowing on this is another encour ca g ing new development. The triple R project - Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Reconciliation going ahead for the estoration of the war torn North, has seen the relevance of seeking women's opinions, suggestions, ideas and oncerns. It is gratifying to find gender consultants being ncluded in the personnel used for the drafting of initial urveys of the area. The World Bank engaged the services of Dr. Selvy Thiruchandran, Director, WERC for The Gender Dimension on Housing needs and both Dr. Selvy Thiruchandran Mrs. Anberiya Hanifa, WERC 3oard member, for Identifying Specific Gender ssues in the Rehabilitation Reconstruction Process, two areas indeed which essentially need women's concern and
Jnderstanding in planning for the future.
A memorable event was organised by the Action Network for Migrant Workers where WERC staff along with other organizations, migrant workers' families and activists who campaigned on their behalf, met at Lipton's Oircus on July 1' 2003. The occasion was to celebrate and make the public aware of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their families, which came into force on this day, as the seventh basic human rights
instrument of the UN......
"Overall, the International Convention seeks to play a role in preventing and eliminating the exploitation of all migrant workers and members of their families including an end to illegal or clandestine movements and to
irregular or Undocumented situations."

Page 3
An upda Women's Politica
Women in Sri Lanka indulged in politics with the winning v of adult franchise as far back as 1931, and in the years S following, our records feature several outstanding women pioneers. However progress has been slow in the years between then and now, a period of over 70 years, during which the percentage of women in parliament and local legislatures has hardly ever risen above 5%. Nevertheless among these several women we count the World's first Prime Minister as well as today's Executive President. But our women NGOs and activists and others who see the low representation of women politicians as a glaring anomaly, have been carrying on a relentless campaign, though bemoaning their failure to make headway for many reasons which are now well identified. However the strategies adopted to change the situation seem to be yielding results. The news report that the Women's Affairs Minister has proposed to the government a quota for women representatives has been
a long standing demand by concerned women.
The Minister has proposed an allocation of 25% representation of women in local government where at present it is only 2.7%. She has also proposed 25% seats in Parliament for women, where the present percentage
is 4.4 and also 25% from the national list as well.
The fact that a "quota' has been accepted on principle is a great, firm, step forward for women. In spite of the many criticisms of the quota system, it could be generally welcomed in the Sri Lankan context as a break through. This decision, giving a semblance of space for women and thereby a sense of security too, in a men-dominated field, would encourage women to step into the political field
and get a toehold in the line of decision-making.
We hope women representatives will now make use of the opportunity to have their voices heard in matters of concern to them and we have firm faith that the government will consider these proposals rationally on
behalf of the 53% of the population which is female.
Just at this time comes the UNIFEM update in a press
release on women's political participation around the

te. On al Participation
sorld, which interestingly states that a positive change is
een. It says .....
"The goal of increasing women's political participation is a long-standing one. The farget of 30 percent representation in key decisionmaking positions has been agreed on of numerous international conferences in the last
decade. Although there were definite signs of progress in all regions between 2000 and 2002 fowards meeting the farget, Progress 2002 indicates that women are still on the whole largely absent from parliaments. They account for about 74 per cent of members in 2002 overall. Only 7 7 countries had reached the 30 per cent benchmark in 2002 - Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Finland, Norway, Iceland, the Netherlands, South Africa, Costa Rica, Argentina. and Mozambique. All of these countries have used
quofas.
Furthermore, the report also shows that unlike the other indicators of progress which show systematic differences between wealthy and poor countries and an undeniable link between poverty and gender inequality, there are no such differences in terms of women's participation in national governments. This is the only indicator that is not affected by national poverty, resulting in the fact that in some wealthy countries, women's political participation is well below that achieved in many developing nations. The United States, France and Japan, where women's share of parliamentary seafs are 72 per cent, il 7.8 per cent and 70 per cenf respectively, lag behind 13 developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa, which is experiencing the greatest regional poverty in the world. In South Africa and Mozambique, women's share of seats is 30 per cent, while Rwanda and Uganda have 25.7 per cent and 24.7 per cent respectively."
We are stepping up, we hope.
Pravahini Volume II No. 2 2003 July

Page 4
Women in the International Criminal Court
The ICC is the world's first tribunal for
genocide war crimes and crimes against humanity. Being the world's first permanent iudicial institution, independent of the UN system it will provide legal expertise on violence against women and aims to maintain gender parity at the ICC. Out of the 18 places available for judges, 7 have been filled by women hailing from reland, Thailand, Brazil, Ghand, Costa Rica, South Africa and Lativia. It is mandated to have fair representation
of women and men of all levels.
The creation of the ICC is seen as being especially important for women because it "can dramatically raise the standard of response for responding to crimes against women" which have long been overlooked.
Commenting on the selection of seven women judges, the Women's Caucus for G en der Justice says, “ca historic light of the tra ditionally very low number of
achievement in
women serving in international
tribunds.”
Women Police Officers in Iran
Newly elected President of Iran, Mohamed Khalami is making efforts to give due consideration to address an ared long neglected. Women's concerns and women's rights in the country are receiving a fillip, and as a result women have been allowed to join up as officers in the Police Force. In the past women were allowed to perform only administrative work. Now for the first
time women Police Officers handle criminal cases having undergone training in firearms, Judo, fencing and laying mines, thought not in the use of heavy machines
ln January 2003 as many cas 400 women joined the Police force as officers.
Chinese Women A
Women artists in C locating a place f society. Women p recent years been p "through a feminist
to come into their ( themselves throug something unusual it world in gener cal generation believe th rights and opportun wish to break the bel
been no great wome
Al caspects of soci dominated, women's
by men's standard good only by a man's Since the 1990s, p changed and the p of women artists hc
style with a significal
Rise in Crime aga
The Ministry of W Development has revi of crimes against WC reported that a ric every once in 54 mi moleste d every 26 do wr y de cath hcap minutes.
New Delhi has ed image as the “crime Statistics have reved
crimes against wome sexual harassment, decaths. Of the coun cases reported 34.7 Delhi.
The Delhi Police cre
increasing crime ra' cind c gree that in
legislation protectin they are still exploite
WE 2003
Source
Pravahini Volume II No. 2 - 2003July
 

rtists
hina are lately or themselves in
a inters have in roducing their art lens". For women own and express h their
the Chinese art
dirt is
But the new ley have the same ities cas men dnd
ief that there have
-n artists in China.
iety being male art too is judged s and considered
view of a woman. erspectives have resent generation live developed a nce of their own.
inst Women
om en cand Child
ealed an increase
omen in indica. It is | pe is committed inutes, someone is minutes and a
pens every 54
rned a negative
capital of India'. led an increase in n, such as cruelty, rapes and dowry 1078 rape 7% took place in
try's
alarmed at the
te against women
spite of various g women's rights,
d.
issues)
Dowry Hunters
New Delhi landmark case where the bride, Nisha
recently reported a
Sharma, called off her wedding and informed the police that her groom had demanded a dowry.
The custom of the bridegroom demanding a dowry and cash gifts is a custom common enough in India and one that has caused many serious problems for the bride's family. Although it was banned by law in the 1980s and is punishable with imprisonment the law is observed more in the breach, giving the custom a traditional sanction. The demand for dowry more often than not finds the bride's family submitting to the demand rather than facing the indignity of a cancelled marriage.
But 21 year old Nisha Sharma, a software engineering find year student, well aware that the law was on her side, not only walked out on the groom but had him iailed, for his last minute decision to demand a dowry of 1- 2 million. Nisha's courageous action h cas shot her into f came cas Delhi’s newspapers hailed her action which would give new inspiration to the old
battle against dowry.
It raised a huge outcry against a
practice long o ut ca we d. Two brides-to-be have already followed suit and had their grooms arrested. Sharma herself has received several propos als of mcarriage and even an
invitation to stand for elections.
We salute Shrmd for her bold stance as a woman, who is undaunted by male chauvinism and has helped to put a near defunct law into practice.
It should make a bridegroom mind his step in the traditional dowry hunt while brides-to-be emboldened by Sharma's example.
will, hopefully, be

Page 5
Sija -Internand Friend T
hilpa Chikara came from the Netherlands where she had been atta che d to a
University and involved in research on women and employment.
Interested in women's issues as she was, she had consulted the "Lonely Planet' guide and found her way to WERC. Though shy at first she was soon able to win over everybody with her charming smile and vibrant personality. Even though she came from the far away shores of
to our lifestyle and wavelength. She made herself at home among us and our activities and was soon helping Romela with her workshops
innovative ideas and the writing up of project proposals.
Europe she is of Indian origin and easily adapted
we make special mention of the enthusiasm with which she pursued and successfully concluded |cin arrangement for obtaining funds for our next project with women in the Batticoloa area. We are grateful to Shilpa for her interest and cooperation.
Though she has been with us only for a few
and contributing to the project office with
months we feel she is very much a part of our organisation. Sadly we bid her adieu and wish her well in her future ended vours.
And Shilpa says After six months of association with WERC, I will soon have to say good-bye. It was in |December 2002 that I had casually dropped in | at the office of WERC to inquire about a possibility to work on a voluntary basis in this institute. At WERC, I was very pleased to see the relaxed yet dedicated pace of work by the staff. Since this institute works for women issues, a field of my interest, I was more than happy to join it.
As a volunteer sometimes it can be difficult to find one's way info an already running organization. However I was fortunate not to encounter that feeling at WERC. I really wish all the best for the starting of the new project for single-women by providing them skills for income generating activities, and a long lasting partnership with Soroptimist in Holland.
Working at WERC has been memorable for me
. With best wishes
Women'
Held in Colo
he thre T mence 2OO3. It wo
in collabor
students fr and a maj and postg from Indid University others.
The sessior identity p
movement
The history from centu:
one point
create life multiple b Identity Po dre writ or dress in a p by women In order to
the Free T
the conflic
and their c
Viewing a cas field vi
were sessi
The sessio
which the
invited. Th
Medals w
VAVO Te CC"
vere Leen
Ammal Na
Hcameedi.
The cours knowledge was great
We are th,
and ! am paricipate

s Studies Course for South Asian Women
mbo
ee-month certificate course on Women's Studies.com d on the 2" of February and ended on the 25" of April as conducted by the Institute of Women's Studies, Lahore, ation with Women and Media Collective, Colombo. The om South Asian countries of Indica, Pakistan, Bangladesh ority from Sri Lanka, were members of NGOs, lecturers raduate students. The faculty too consisted of lecturers and Pakistan with the majority from Sri Lanka, who were ecturers, women activists, gender specialists, artists and
is included history, women and space, political economy, olitics, culture, literature, conflict, peace, women's and feminist theories.
session, traced women's oppression and subordination ries Before Christ. It was interesting to note that women at were worshipped as Goddesses due to their ability to 2. The session on Political Economy gave light to the Urdens borne by women due to the economic crisis. litics threw light on the different identities and how they the bodies of women, for instance, women are forced to articular way by men, to protect culture. The space utilised was given importance in the session Women and Space. get practical experience visits were made to slums, and rade Zone. The session on Conflict too included a visit to t zone. The other sessions also portrayed women's role oppressed position.
nd reviewing films related to the topics concerned as well sits were included. As it was a residential course there ons and discussions af night too.
ns were brought to a close with an award ceremony to faculty and many distinguished women activists were hose who obtained above 70% received certificates. ere awarded to six outstanding students in honour of six tivists of the past. Women thus honoured for the first time a rene Haputhanthri, Rajini Thiranagama, Meenachchi tesa Aiyyar, Razia Bhatti, Ameneh Azam Ali and Rukhsana
je provided the rich experience of widening our e in a "living and working together' environment, which ly appreciated by the participants.
ankful to the funders and those who conducted the course, grateful to WERC for giving me this opportunity to
&
Romela
Pravahini Volume II No. 2 2003July

Page 6
PEACE LINIK (0) JAFFNA
m 25" Febrary 2003, 7 members of WERC sit caff to O gether with the Executive Director, Dr. Selwy Thiruchandron and Board Member M5. Berno de en de Silwa, left for Jaffng. Although this was originally planned as o staff outing if evolved into a mission, a Peuce Link with our sisters in the North. To this end the Executive Director had
writt en to se veral development organisations and others engaged in rebuilding the war torn areas, and a rather
tight schedule was arranged.
Howing stayed the night in Anuradhapura, we proceeded along the A9. This was a very uncomfortable journey cus the road was broken in several places cand often it was only a tract of land through the Scrub jungle. The trees om either side were covered with red dust which resembled blood from II distance. The te dious process of checkpoints completed we entered the northern province. This dred was dotted with broken buildings, burnt iungle land, damaged
army lCirrios
and tanks A and norices or either
side Wirning the way farer 5 ko be
care fu of
on d mines and other
explo 5 iwe S.
But there were distinct signs of life limping back to a semblance of normalcy. We saw families consisting of 4 or 5 members in tiny cadian huts and little plots of vegetables and tobacco.
We reached our destinction in Manipay at around 2.45 p.m. and after a surptious lunch, we drove to HUDEC. This is the Human Development Centre which is on arm of SEDEC Colombo in Jaffna. We net the Director Rev. Jeyakumar and his associates for an informal discussion on the situation
in the North and East and the problems they are facing in the aftermath of the signing of the MOU and the return to a
semblance of peace.
We found the close association this organization has made with the displaced persons had produced encouraging results with the expertise of their specialists. It was the Olim Cof this group to e 5 t a bo|i5h g n effse tt fw se fo r u rTn far organizations and persons of different categories such as widows, ond mothers. Each participant discussed at length the work carried out by them with the displaced.
Prayah ini Wolse II No. 2 - 2003y
 

Rey. Joyca k Lum car spoke of the fresh problems that had cari 5 en after the signing of the MOU. These were, unwed mothers,
2 X. TT C marit ca |
affairs CInd
children born out of wedlock and the impossibility of getting them birth certificates, orphaned children, and adults injured and still being injured by land mines, and last but not least the problem of addiction to liquor especially Kasippu, the highly potent local brew which was freely available. This addiction caused related problems such as deterioration of health, physical abuse of close relatives especially the wife and children, and neglect of the family and the resulting powerty. He said that the Centre was carrying out awareness raising in schools and counselling for the families. Some of the addicts came voluntarily for treatment but most of them were in derical and this made i har der to handle,
Questioned by WERC Staff on force d conscription Fr. Jeyakumar said that there was no large scale forced conscription but that sometimes teenagers were attracted to ioin.
One of the other persons who was present with the Reverend was introduced as a member of the LTTE political wing and spoke in Tamil which Dr. Selwy and the Rev. translated. He said that the problems faced by the people was displacement. He said that 34,000 families living in the High Security Zone were displaced and living either in rented houses or in refugee camps. The Army was still occupying ports of schools or in close proximity to the schools and this caused children to be fearful that there might be hostilities. He requested that we visitors from Colombo could lobby for responsible action to be taken immediately to remove or relocate these army personnel. He said that after one year there was no concrete action taken cand the cattitude of the government was lctha rgic to say the least, There was an underlying sense of anger and disappointment, They feel that the government displayed a complacent attitude now that there was no fear of bombs but they worn of repercussions if no action is taken to solve
these problems.
Fr. Jeyakumar speaking further said that they had started a Building Bridges project whereby groups of persons from the South came and stayed with families in the North for 2 or 3 days and vice versa. This fought them to respect the rights of others and even though there was a longuage barrier there wos peaceful non-aggressive communication.
This is also a very difficult process as a whole generation

Page 7
do na 1 km co w W anything other th than a war
| Situ ca fian. They
fegl che ted O5 f they have not it
h Cid C
childhood. The
gun in their E
hand gives them the only sense of achievement. They w cannot integrate in a normal atmosphere. They realise their
shortcomings and this makes them aggressive, They feel that S their life is wasted. C
The next day 27" we visited the Good Shepherd Centre W and Tet the Director Fr. Bernard who is also a trustee of the b Jeffrica Public Library cand hicid teca with him. The Executiwe T Director presented a selection of WERC publications to p the Jaffna Public Library which Fr. Bernard accepted, fi During this time we discussed with him the present situation a in the North. He induired how we felt having seen the L
Y | | | | | | |
destruction of the way to Jaffna. We expressed soldness. It c
the wanton destruction, I was particularly struck by the s difference in the Jaffna which I remembered as a child, the c
old buildings, the bustling towns, the houses with the high fences and the drumstick frees growing on the brundaries, The present damaged, pock marked buildings, burnt out shells of houses, parched land, altost non-existent fences were
all a stark reminder of the ravages of war,
the afterloor we wisited the Jaffna University Dلg- portment of Political Science, Sociology and Arthro
pology and met the Dean, Dr. Shanmugaling an and his cassistant Doreen. He also showed us one of his publicca
tions, WERC purchased some of these publications including his book the New Face of Durga. This book focusses on the rising worship of the goddess Durga and the new forms of
worship that have begun. This worship had brought about a levelling between costes where the priests of temple Durga t
Cire sometimes of a lesser craste than the Brahmỉms. Prayers lo to the Deities were all that the mosses had to cling to at this h
time.
 
 
 
 

We next visited the Women's Development Centre ond net 1e Director Saro o Siya chandran About 40 - 50 of the ffected girls and ladies with whom she works had othered there. They explained that the most affected by he conflict were the women due to their gender and Iarginalized role in society. Some of the girls spoke of the ifficulties they undergo in certain areas. We were able to et first hand information from them of the life they now 2 ad in Jaffna. We were happy to have corne in contact
rith theril.
ome of us also visited Naga deepa before returning to
olombo on the l" of March.
We also visited the Centre for performing Arts invited y Fr. Servari who hod his students gathered to meet us, hey were Tostly displaced girls who spoke of their roblems, The students were wery enthusiastic and
riendly, spoke Cibout their street performances and acted
short dialogue as to how the dowry system breaks
p families.
Our wisit had left us with many thoughts whirling in our heads. If wCIs the
human element that touched us most. Could we imagine that what we had
recently se en was another part of our
Totherland. Those
T1 e rn, Worm em Cim Cd hildren were o Lur count er po carts, only dist Cance eparating us. These were people rebuilding their lives ifter 20 years of suffering and struggling to survive through
| 'ኳ"ሶ'( 1I,
low could we help was uppermost in our minds. From the onversations we had with the people in Jaffna certain ideas merged. We felt our advocacy and lobbying could 0L CLLL LLL L00LL a0K LLL LLLLLLa0 LL0LLL0S LL ltLL LLLLLLLLaL LLLLLLH LLL LLLLL LLLLL HLLLLLLL LLLLLLLL w r o n g irTn p r essio n s which c ca u s e b i r t errn (e s s ci r1 d lissension could be minimized. The need for gender ensitization was wery clear. The women believe that lowry is a necessity and since the war, males of 1 Cirridge C ble tage care limited in number and the ld Wry price high. The need for women to be e Ti i o wered to erıca ble them to f cake responsibility for heir future and face new challenges, is wery great. low that we have made many contacts in Jaffna we ave to take the initiative to provide some form of
I55is†CIn Le.
Pra "altini Volume II No. 22(23 July

Page 8
THE STORY OF SARA BAARTMAN (OR SCIENTIFIC RACISM)
Sara B a artman, an indigenous South African (Khoi) woman, was taken away in 1810 from her mother country under false pretences by a Dutchman Hendrik Cezar and English ship's surgeon, William
Diana Ferrus Dunlop. When she arrived in England in 1810
she was paraded as a sexual freak. This humiliation continued in Paris where she was sold to an animal trainer. She died at the age of 25 and George Cuvier, Napoleon’s scientist dissected her body, took out her brain and genitals, put them in formalin in glass iars to display in the Museum of Man (MUse de' Homme) in Paris. He then wrote a book on her describing in full detail her body and how she was not fully human, but half animal. This was done in the times of scientific racism. She became the base on which they drafted their hierarchy of races showing Europeans on top, and the Khoi-Khoi people from whom Sara Baartman as well as Diana Ferrus are descended, at the bottom.
After the first democratic elections in 1994, attempts were made to have Sara's remains returned to her home country. Even President Mandela tried without success as the remains belonged to the French Museum. In the meantime Diana Ferrus was studying in Holland, and was feeling homesick one evening, when her thoughts went back to Sara and how she would have felt. Thus was her poem composed,
the words iust came, she says "surely from a Higher Hand".
A French Senator Nicholas About, petitioning for bringing back Sara's remains, happened to read Diana's poem on the web site. He used it in his argument and moved the French Senate and Assembly to vote unanimously for the return of Sara.
Diana went with the government delegation that brought the remains from Paris and she read her
poem da buried i
Read or
Tribut
have co
home Re
The lush
The cair is
I have m your bola the prote and the \
ds it hobl
have co away fro who lives
who disse
who like
and decl
I have col offer m) will cove
will run r
will feds
and I will
for have
have col
where the
I have mc
Your blar The prote have co,
where w for you h
Glossary: Buchu -
purposes Mint - d.
Profecas . Veld - w (Based o
Pravahini Volume II No. 2 - 2003July
 

the burial April 27, 2002. Today Sara's remains lie a beautiful site in East Cape.
to Sara Baartman
me to take you home - member the veld? reen grass beneath the big ocak trees? cool there and the sun does not burn. de your bed at the foot of the hill, kets are covered in buchu and mint, as stand in yellow and white rater in the stream chuckle sing-songs les along over little Stones.
me to wrench you away - m the poking eyes of the man-made monster in the dark with his racist clutches of imperialism, icts your body bit by bit, ns your soul to that of satan ares himself the ultimate God me to soothe your heavy heart, f bosom to your weary soul. r your face with the palms of my hands, my lips over the lines in your neck, t my eyes on the beauty of you
sing for you
come to bring you peace.
me to take you home
ancient mountains shout your name. de your bed at the foot of the hill. kets are covered in buchu and mint. as stand in yellow and whitene to take you home
ill sing for you, Ive brought me peace.
- Diana Ferrus
a herb used by Khoi-khoi people for medicinal
Ierb also used for medicinal and cooking purposes the national flower of South Africa le open space.
information sent by Diana Ferrus)

Page 9
Women's link Wi
The Oxford English Dictionary defines a "woman" as "an elderly female'. A woman therefore can be described in the form of a mother, a daughter, a wife, a sister within a
family.
At the same time "law" can be defined as a particular legal system that binds a community together. Thus, every member in that specific community is bound by the
provisions of that particular legal system.
* There are 2 basic sections in Law
Substantive Law - which identifies a person's rights, duties cand obligations i.e. Constitutional Law,
Administrative Law
Procedural Law - in an instance where the above. mentioned rights, duties or delegations are violated, this introduces the procedure through which a person may seek remedy. i.e. Law of Evidence
* How can "women' and criminal law be linked?
"Woman' in contemporary society plays the role of a housewife, breadwinner, nurturer, community worker all in one. She makes a worthy contribution to society at large through her multiple roles. It is inevitable that she be not subjected to violence, sexu cal har assment, physical assault, and discrimination. This is where we may apply provisions set out in the criminal Law (i.e. Penal Code)
pertaining to offences against women.
It would therefore be relevant to ask two questions "What is an offence?" and "What is a wrongful Act?' In the eyes of the law an "offence' is a punishable, illegal act committed against society and its members. To complete the offence two components have to be fulfilled.
ck the mental aspect (men's rea)
水 physical act (actus rens)
A "Wrongful Act" is an act committed against morality. Every wrongful act may not necessarily be an offence,
but every offence is a wrongful act.
Pravahini Volume II No. 2 - 2003July

h Criminal LaW
Violence against Women
There are many forms of Violence against women, but mhatever form it takes violence affects women also in a multitude of ways. It affects her mentality, physical well-being, her education, health, character, ndependence, personality etc. The effects will also be reflected in her children's upbringing, and family. Finally, negative effects will be reflected in her poor and damaged personality and her weak contribution to the nation's development in general. One can see very good reason why all forms of violence against women should
be eliminated.
The causes for violence against women may be enumerated thus, with "patriarchy' 'cultural barriers' heading the list while cultural barriers comes a close second. These are followed by lack of decision making power, inequality, women's limited participation in politics and media, weak economic power and gender division of labour.
The foregoing being the causes, the forms of violence against women are as many as they are varied. Most of them are usually heard of or seen as common place incidents, while the media excels in reporting all sordid details as sensational news. As is to be expected in this day and time, rape heads the list.
Rocky Ariyaratne
Ν Women's Studies Course (Sinhala)
76
Conducted by WERC commences September 2003
Please contact Project Coordinator
595.296 Or 596826 for more details
محمد
O

Page 10
Understanding CEDAW
AW
The Convention
the Eliminoti
of a forms
Disc rim ind tic Against Wome (CEDAW), adopte by the UN Gener, Assembly in 1979
described cas th "international Bill for Rights for Women". Sri Lanka ratifie the Convention in 1981, but after all these years it is felt thc the document has failed to have an impact on the wome whom it addresses. WERC, therefore evolved a project in a attempt to produce a simplified version of the document as
handy booklet to facilitate understanding it contents. The sixte en Articles of the convention thc enumerate the "rights' of women are now presented i simplified form, easily comprehensible to the average reade in English alongside a translation in Sinhala. The booklet i meaningfully illustrated to further the impact of the messag conveyed. The outcome of the project is a neat, attractiv and reader friendly hand book on CEDAW, ready fo distribution among school children as well as adults.
η Ενν3 Ατσι για
Sri Lankan Women's delegation to Myanmar
Our concern is for Aung San Suu Kyi acknowledged leader of National league for democracy in Burma, who has been kep detention by the Junta since May 30". We join the internatic agencies requesting her release and urge that the 30 str Sri Lankan women's delegation seeking to visit her be gran permission.
Female Empowerment
The all too familiar figure on estates of the Kangany in shorts shirt with stick in hand, will soon go missing. The category Kangany has traditionally been exclusively for men both on and rubber plantations so it comes as fresh 'aroma' to hear news that women "pluckers' or tappers' are now entitled to ris the position of supervisor'. This is the result of a collect agreement signed by major plantation TU's and Est Management companies with regard to conditions of employm
Female empowerment has at long last been introduced to plantations where even the woman's hard earned pa) collected by her (idle) husband at the end of the day. We sure that many a "plucker' will aspire to her new found positio her red green saree and flashing smile with firm steady step.
Pravahini Volume II No. 2 - 2003July
 

the
in
na
ng red
nd
of
eC
he
to
Ve
te
nit.
LIFE ON THE OTHER SIDE.
Under a colony of make shift tents, we draw our territories. Families of five to ten
with a bar of Washing soap cleanse their clothes and sins.
The cup of rice and dhal little conquer our tormenting hunger. The children play in the dust....
hopscotch, a class room of make believe. We live for each night of brick walled, tile roofed, dwellings of privacy and dignity.... we wake up to our sojourning depression.
Day after day,
year after year, we await the resurrection of an era long forgotten, amidst a celebration of missiles and a display of artillery.
SULAKSHANA
We congratulate......
Malini Devananda
On the first ordination of women in the Church of Ceylon (Anglican) in Sri Lanka, in March 2003, Malini Devananda was ordained along with three others to the deaconate of the Anglican Church. The ordination was held at the Cathedral of The Living Scaviour Colombo.
Vitha Fernando
A one-time iournalist in a national English Newspaper, Vijitha Fernando, became the winner of the prestigious Gratien Prize this year.
Excelling in Sinhala to English translation, her prize winning entry was "Out of the Darkness" a translation of two Sinhala novels within one theme by Gunadasa Amarasekera, the well known novelist.
10

Page 11
GoLDEN THOUGHTS ON WoMEN, by Vijay Kaushik. Jaipur, India, Book Enclave, 2001 42ópp
Golden Thoughts on Women is virtually a treasure trove on the topic of women. It takes a critical look on the role of women by different personages down the ages, till the modern times. Readers will find this book useful and amusing.
GENDER AND NARRATIVE, Edited by Jasbir Jain and Supriya Agarwal. New Delhi, Rwat Publications. 2002
This is a collection of twenty-two essays which sets out to explore the limits of narrative. The subjects range form theoretical underpinnings to studies; or individual texts from writers of the 1930s to the present day contemporary writers. The work presents an interesting and insightful dialogue on gender and narrative.
WoMEN AND GOVERNANCE IN SOUTH ASIA; Re-imagining the State, edited by Yasmin Tambiah. Colombo, ICES. 2002 497pp
This volume brings together six studies conducted under this project, carried out by six organizations. The research draws on archives, interviews, a survey and focus group discussion to address two sets of issues; women's engagement with formal political processes and women's experiences and visions of the State. It is intended to inform initiative that will promote women's active engagement in governance at the local, national and regional levels.
MEMSAHIBs ABROAD: Writings by Women Travellers in 19" Century, edited by Indra Ghose. Delhi, Oxford University Press. 1998
The most exciting aspect of this book is that it salvages long-forgotten writings by English woman travellers in India - writings that are perceptive, amusing and of historical value - and which have long been out of print.
PROBLEMS OF WoMEN'S MARRIAGE AND VioleNCE, by Veena Pani Pandey. New Delhi, Mohil Publications 2002
This book discusses myriad aspects of social and domestic violence against women. This will prove useful to
III
 

eminists, women's activists, sociologists and academic esearches.
A NEW FACE OF DURGA: RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL CHANGE IN
SRI LANKA, by Nagalingam Shanmugalingam. Univ.of Jaffna. )elhi, Kallinga Publications. 2002 199pp
ellipalai is a small village in Jaffna, the northern part of var-torn Sri Lanka is, the cynosure of Durga worship. The 1uthor's study reflects an excellent sense of what constitutes an intriguing anthropological problem and the tudy also examines this symbolic change in relation o the present day socio-cultural changes of Jaffna.
THINKING SOCIAL SCIENCE IN INDIA; Essays in honour of Alice Thorner, edited by Suiatha Patel, Jasodhara Bagchi and Krishna Raj. New Delhi, Publications. 2002 456pp.
his collection of original essays by prominent scholars :oncerned as a festschrift in honour of Alice Thorner, binds his volume together that all the contributors reflect on diverse issues which are seminal to the thinking of social science in India. Among the many unique features of this volume is that it brings together economist, historians, political scientist, anthropologist, sociologists and those who specialise in gender issues and cultural studies.
PERSPECTIVES ON PoST-CoLoNIAL LITERATURE, Edited by D.C.R.A. Goonetilleke. London, Skoob Books Ltd. 2001, 202 pp
This important collection of essays assesses the harvest of the post-colonial project. It spans an impressive range, from stimulating sceptical analysis by distinguished novelists Nayantara Sahgal and Dan Jacobson on the forces that underlie much post-colonial literature and Yasmine Gooneratne on issues of gender to original essays by eminent critics. In sum, this book with its international team of contributors, offers the kind of periodical assessment which post-colonial literature needs and is valuable to the student, several readers and scholar alike.
HISTORY AND DEOLOGY: THE KHALSA OVER 300 YEARS, by Prof. J. S. Grewal and lndu Banga. New Delhi. Tulika. 2001
This book commemorates the tercentenary of the Khalsa by focusing on the history of the Sikh Panth, setting it in the content of the general history of India. The papers cover a large ground and provide valuable insights into the history of the Sikhs from the sixteenth to the twentieth century.
GLoBALISATION: THE IMPERIAL THRUST of MoDERNITY, edited by Ninan Koshy. Mumbai. Vikas. 2002 117pp
This volume of essays makes an original and stimulating contribution to the discourse on globalization conceptualising it as the highest expression of modernity.
Pravahini Volume II No. 2 2003July

Page 12
15 Ror your next . . . . . . . . . . .
Research, Article, Book,
Speech Resources
Books aldinformation C1
* Gender * Child &
You th * Politics * Mcdia
Sociology 8 Women's Studies
* Religion
For quick reference
Dictionaries/Encyclopedias Research Reports Thcsis, Will Directorie:5
Special calection 1 Will's
Writingin Sri Lanka
LIMA: Irtirar taTrian News clipping on violcn.cc, suicides hul main = rights FTZ, Wonen, Trafficking in women, migrant rkersנrי
Doc"LIITTYerred Morrmal Articles from EPW Ficininish and
Hirnal/Gender and Society, Monthly Review citc.
Aldo Paris Features and Feature films on women issu, cs, hu ma fin rights, ethnicity etc. C. We have facilities for Reading & reference wyork For non
members 0 Information through telephone
or fax. C Computerised database for
your research G Inter Library Loan facilitics 0 Photocopying at cost 0: Computer printoLitofreading
list C Loan membership G Referencereferral services.
Psychology, Rethinking History,
: docuinentaries and
A Warm Welco
Ms. Gayathri Puvimana Ms. Bhagya de Silva, Ms. Indika Bulankulama Mr. Rohan Sahayam
Our best wishes go out family in Singapore, Ma and fair for Public Reli auditorium assistant. W pleasant manner.
UNIFEM Press Reg
Women's Role in
As post-conflict operation: the UNDG to prepare g assessments; . UNIFEM yw:
consultations with w com
representative political pro Iraq, including the organiz a national Inetwork of womi
YŅÈR
9 Seminars,
G Film
For your
The WERC Auditorium c.
Fully cair conditioned Public Address System Overhead Projectors Tromsloting Unit TW and WCRFocilities Magi and Flip Chart B Recording focility
A.
seating capacity of 5 and spacious dimir
Mes
WoMEN's EDUCATION &
harmarama Rοαd, C Tel. 595296 Fa Email UominedreG
Pravahini Volune 11 No. 2-2003 July
 
 

me to WERC
ingham - Auditorium Assistant
- Sinhala Publications s - Senior Executive: Publication & Research
- Tamil Publication Assistant. On short as signment to help with Tamil Publication
to Mallika Manoharan who left WERC to join her lika was an efficient staff member. Her enthusiasm tiom made her a successful b0ok Sales officer and ERC appreciated her commitment to duty and her
(I se 25 June 2003
Post Conflict Iraq
3 get underway in Iraq, UNIFEM has worked within uidelines for carrying out gender sensitive needs ill report on its recent mission to Iraq, consisting of len and UN partners towards ensuring a fully cess. UNIFEM will also discuss upcoming initiatives in ation of a national symposium and the establishment of
21lgrupS.
ÀQUDDPORNUDNA
Workshops, 9 Awareness Programmes, shows, Meetings etc.
offers you the following facilities -
complete with Microphones and Ear Phones
ords
i0 available with conference tables and an airy
g area to accommodate the same number. Tea could be supplied on reques f
RESEARCH CENTRE olombo 6, Sri lanka
x5963Ig
stnet.dk.
2