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WERC NEW
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Women's Education and Research Centre, popularly known as WERC, was originally inaugurated as Women's Education Centre(WEC) in 1982. Since then our organisation has come a long Way Widening its scope, its horizons, its activities along with the clientele it serves, to come of age. WERC is 21 years old
"Striving for a gender equal society" is the wision that acts as Our guiding light and by which We seek to fulfil our mission "to achieve equality for Women in all walks of life'.
Thus through the years, our activities, in spite of various Constraints, have progressed slowly at times, but steadily, in the line of research projects, publications, Conferences and Workshops, and dissemination of bibliographical knowledge. With the peaceful atmosphere prevalent in the present day, our activities have veered towards the topically relevant field of feCOrlciliation and rehabilitation in war affected areas, and amongst war -affected people, mainly women in their thousands,
Year 2003 has seen the Continuation of these activities of WERC With Tene'Wedwigour, and We refer to three of ourongoing projects.
We hawe inaugurated a Women's Studies Certificate Course, LLLLHHLLLL LLLL LL LLLLL LL LLLLLLCLLLLS LLLLL LLaL course which combines theory and activism, is already on schedule in the Sinhala medium and will be followed by the Tamil medium Course in March 2004. The lectures are conducted by University academic staff in the
relevant fields, and other experienced gender activists. The Executive Director WERC is the
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available for sometime elsewhere but only in the English medium. However, we fulfil for the first time a keenly feltreed- caused by the absence of such a Course in the national languages. Due to the lack of proficiency in English, persons interegsted in WonThogh's studies 1a Weg biggin | eft behind. It has created a dearth of knowledgeable persons who could disseminate rele want knowledge, especially in rural and suburban
areas, among that section of the population that
is essentially Sinhala or Tamil speaking educated. While the primary objective of the project is to provide a basic foundation for the discipline of women's studies, it is envisaged that it Will leadi due COurSe tO di SCOLIrSe OliSSue:S of gender, and produce as Well, reasonably good
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Prayah ini Vol. 12. No. 1 -Jarrary 2004
 

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Writing in the media and even publication of books. We could also expect the knowledge acquired to be a tool for the purpose of transforming attitudes to a gender sensitive perspective.
The project undertaken in the Eastern Province is entitled 'Skills training and Counselling for Female headed Households'. The Whole exercise entails a process of empowering this particular category of Women. They are selected from the poorest of the poor of Batticaloa, Akkaraipattu and Ampara, Bereft of economic support or any social welfare these women have become a socially Targinalised group, in addition to the economic straits they find themselves in. The project addresses the three Tain aspects of providing skills training for employment, free legal Counselling and free medical Counselling, thus seeking to provide the basic needs for placing these Women in a better position to face the traumatic life they are compelled to lead.
Another project that has just got under Way is an attempt to produce a Gender Reader as a WERC publication. The project is based on the past issues of Pravahini, the WERC Newsletter, which has been regularly published twice a year since 1991, Throughout these years it has sought to highlight the activities of Women, both local and around the World-their achievements, their trials and tribulations and their struggle for equality. The Prawahini comes out in English, Sinhala and Tamil and Comprises articles essays, reports and poems of topical
interest - with a bias towards gender.
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L'EY r. 1. Much of the Current information included 2 in Pravahini is obtained on the internet and from foreign journals and magazines. ni ElectLII 리
HÉCë the Sė lëWSlėtters ha WÉ a Tä55d tions a wide collection of up to date informative TEIT... 4 and educative material con gender, fram which the Gender Reader will glean the - choicest selections. The appeal of the Gender Reader is focused on the general ... reading public including senior students B in schools with the aim of arousing EAMW g an awareness and understanding of
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Post Feminism and its conceptual
ambivalence
Post feminism like post modernism cannot be oversimplifi The concept has very little consensual comprehension. It was the late 1980's that the term became fashionable in the mec which used it negatively. It is more connected with a period or era along with periodic themes and theories like post mod theories. Post feminism is characterised with a few strands thought. There are a group of young men and Women who f ably supported by the media in the thought construction t feminism is irrelevant today - is perhaps dead. The struggle of
mother and grandmother, feminists of the 60's, 70's and 80's h; borne this fruits. This group, while enjoying the benefits a achievements of the feminists' struggles, do not in anyway that they have to take on the struggle forward. Neither do ti think that there is need for such struggles. The war is over,
battle is won. For the most part, media is responsible
constructing such visions of post feminism. In effect, it proposed a view that feminism is after all not beneficial, but I become destructive to women. Feminists have achieved much are not happy with the result - so why go on struggling? Media tried to belittle feminist theories posing them against femi achievements. This can be called the popular, post femi rhetoric.
However, there is also an academic version of post feminism. the post theories, post structuralism, post modernism and p colonialism have to do something with feminism too. While throwing away the totality of all the theoretical premises of the p era, they rebuild on them supposedly improving on them wi questioning some or most of those fundamental theories structuralism and modernism. We have yet to hear of a p marxism. Perhaps unable to coin such a phrase we have opted neo marxism. Hence post feminism is mainly a theoreti discourse and has very little to do with practice. We can ider two approaches in this academic post feminism. One challenges the so called unified dominant theories and debates the feminist epistomology of the former era. While challenging approach, it puts forward a multiplicity of debates, theories a arguments converging and collapsing feminist theories with ot broad social science theories. Secondly, it questions the categ of women as a unitary phenomenon and connects up discour of power and subordination while retaining the concept patriarchy. One has no problems with such "grand narratives" long as they can be realised. However, feminists cannot forget past. The significance of time should lead us to view and treat b the the past and the present, as equally significant so that future can be projected meaningfully.
Let me then conclude, by saying that feminism has not beco obsolete or outdated or irrelevant. One has to only realise sufferings, deprivations and exploitations the women all over world undergo with newly emerging modernisms and their wae with rise of religious fundamentalism and marginalisation fa by women due to globalisation. Attempts by the media neutralize and depoliticize feminism should be taken note The feminist struggle should now be directed against St media constructions as well, in addition to the multiplicity powers and the newly emerging facets of patriarchy.
2
 

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Edward Said passed away on September 25, 2003. He was the Professor of English and comparative literature at Columbia University (USA). He was an American Citizen, a Christian and a Palestinian by birth. His life is celebrated as being rich and productive, as a man who lived his convictions unafraid of conventional wisdom. Belonging to two different cultures his efforts were to bridge the gap between them but one would not recognise the merits of the other. He devoted much of his life to fight for mutual understanding, human rights as against oppression and for all humanity not only the Palestinian cause. "Humanity as a whole is poorer for his death.
Quoting from his afterword on his famous book "Orientalism is very much a book tied to the tumultuous dynamics of contemporary history. Its first page opens with a 1975 description of the Lebanese Civil War that ended in 1990, but the violence and the ugly shedding of human blood continues up to this minute. We have had the failure of the Oslo peace process, the outbreak of the second intifada, and the awful suffering of the Palestinians on the re-invaded West Bank and Gaza. The suicide bombing phenomena has appeared with all its hideous damage, none more lurid and apocalyptic of course than the events of September 11, 2001 an their aftermath in the wars against Afghanistan and Iraq. As I write these lines, the illegal imperial occupation of Iraq by Britain and the United States proceeds. Its aftermath is truly awful to contemplate. This is all part of what is supposed to be a clash of civilizations, unending, implacable, irremediable. Nevertheless, I think not.
I wish I could say that general understanding of the Middle East the Arabs and Islam in the United States has improved somewhat but alas, it really hasn't. For all kinds of reasons, the situation in Europe seems to be considerably better. In the US, the hardening of attitudes, the tightening of the grip of demeaning generalization and triumphalist cliché, the dominance of crude power allied with simplistic contempt for dissenters and "others" has found a fitting Correlative in the looting and destruction of Iraq's libraries and museums. What our leaders and their intellectual lackeys seem incapable of understanding is that history cannot be swept clean like a blackboard, clean so that "we" might inscribe our own future there and impose our own forms of life for these lesser people to follow. It is quite common to hear high officials in Washington and elsewhere speak of changing the map of the Middle East, as if ancient societies and myriad peoples can be shaken up like so many peanuts in a jar. But this has often happened with the "Orient" that semimythical construct which since Napoleon's invasion of Egypt in the late eighteenth century has been made and re-made countless times. In the process the uncountable sediments of history, that include innumerable histories and a dizzying variety of peoples, languages, experiences, and cultures, all these are Swept aside or ignored, relegated to the sand heap along with the treasures ground into meaningless fragments that were taken out of Baghdad."
Pravahini Vol. 12. No. 1 - January 2004

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Oppressive Traditions Must Be
Most children simply are not empowered enough to make others around them-especially their parents and other adults-aware of their innermost feelings. This is often due to fear of being hit or shouted at with ugly words that tend to leave lasting negative impressions, such that these children know not to speak of their emotions to these adults (and others) ever again.
Poststructural theorist Michael Foucault claims that we are never without power. We may be able to apply this theory t women who could lobby for their own rights but with children this theory appears steadily unsteady. As a little girl (and even now) for some reason I loved the colour blue an was disgusted at the Čolour pink. I did not feel comfortable but was afraid to tell my mother. I thus had to endure years of having a room with a pink colour scheme. Did she decic this colour scheme on her own just to annoy me or show m who is boss? Absolutely not; Mum was merely adhering to : "timeless' tradition that pink is for girls and blue is for boys Thus the first step towards alternative parenting or a feminis way of raising children is to avoid decision-making based ol traditionalist thought that denies children the right to object to such decisions and in turn leaves them feeling disempowered.
The above example of colour preference requires further unpacking. Another reason why Mother did not ask me for my colour preference was also probably due to my being female; had I been male she would have to some extent consulted me about the colour scheme of my room. In fact she admitted that had I been a boy, she would have been so happy (perhaps happy enough to let me choose my own colour scheme?). For his part, my dad reinforced this by welcoming my “boyish' habits and taking great interest in my karate and sporting activities that eventually faded as I grew up and suddenly sought to be more “feminine'. He also once remarked that I would have had a good excuse not to be domestically inclined had I been a boy.
According to Marxist theory, as soon as a thesis is created an antithesis already exists even without it being articulated. Trus enough, I soon began to feel discomfort over this gender inequity issue at home. My parents may not have realised it a that time but I started to dislike my circumstances, and in my misery I attempted to find an alternative view of the gender issue. This led me to hope and believe that gender equity wa obtainable but still I was uncertain about how to make it a reality.
l think that gender equity should begin in the private space of the home. Attempting to initiate gender equity in the public sphere such as the work place is a mission that could encounter many difficulties, as existing mindsets may be unchangeable.
Pravahini Vol. 12. No. 1 - January 2004

Challenged in the Home First
One could argue that gender equity in the home should be the equally shared responsibility of both parents. In a patriarchal society (like most societies) it is often the women who are chiefly responsible for child rearing. While insisting that their husbands play a more active role in child rearing, and even forcing them to do it, women should also consider that being principally responsible for child care could be an opportunity for them to inculcate gender equity right at the start. Maybe the problem is that women often unwittingly succumb to traditional methods of rearing their children, which includes instilling in them gender inequity belief systems. Women thus need to begin such a process of positively transforming their families by questioning their own belief systems and the amount of gender inequity it contains. They should then attempt to rectify any gender inequity at home by a slow and deliberate process making the family understand why there is change as well as the need for it.
As an alternative to what some children would call boring lectures from their parents, the parent or mother could merely make subtle changes in the home as well as in the manner in which the family is governed politically. These might include the recognition that sons and daughters enjoy equal status and rights, bearing in mind however that age groups should be differentiated (for instance, a 13-year-old boy should definitely not have all the same rights as his 5year-old sister and vice versa).
Another situation that definitely poses a problem is when the mother accords the father a higher status than the children (and herself) and treats him accordingly. This immediately sets the pattern of gender inequity in the family, encouraging the children to believe that the male position in a household is higher and more rewarding than a female position. Sometimes it is the mother who punishes or shouts at her children when they question statements or actions by their father that have to do with gender imbalances (or balances).
Children thus need to be freed from such traditions that promote gender inequity. There is hope, and no doubt an absolute need, not only for feminist parents but all parents world-wide to initiate a process of alternative parenting that will create adults who will in turn practice healthy alternative parenting without much effort.
By: Kumarí Kímendhri Pillay nas born in 1979 in Durban,
South Africa andgren up "in the heat of the oppressive apartheid system." Of Indian origin, she is a graduate of Indian classical dance, Bharata Natyam, hence the title "Kumari.” She obtained her BA Music degree as well as her Honours in Contemporary Dance and Choreography at the University of Natal-Durlan. While noréing as a researcher, she is currently studying for a masteral degree in Education and Community Developmentalso at the samle university,
(From Women. In Action - No. 1, 2003)

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W e Congratulate these Women who have Won international fame and
recognition and hail their achievements gained through dedication to the cause of Women and human rights.
The Nobel Peace Prize Winner
The 2003 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to a woman - - Iranian Shirin Ebadi, a human rights worker, especially for Women and children in her country. On receiving the award She is reported to have said," this prize belongs not only to me, it belongs to everybody who workfor democracy and peace in Iran".
in her country the award is seen as inspirational to those who for years have been struggling for human rights, all through the Islamic revolution and a despotic regime.
Ebadi is a feminist lawyer, writer and part time lecturer at Teheran University. She is also the first Iranian woman judge but was removed from that position after the Islamic Revolution. She has spent a good part of her lifetime campaigning for better rights for women and children.
Iran's rulers after the revolution believed in the superiority of men Over Women, but she is the first Iranian and the eleventh woman to win this award. She was also the first female judge in Iran and practised law until the Islamic revolution, when women judges were banned from working.
The Nobel committee's citation read, "as a lawyer, judge, lecturer, writer and activist she has spoken out clearly and strongly in her country, Iran, and far beyond its borders. She has stood up as a sound professional, a Courageous person, and has never heeded the threats to her own safety." The
Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress
Sulang Kirilli" (Wind Bird) the highly acclaimed and controver outstanding awards at the Montevideo international Film Fest
del Uruguay.
The jury had elected it as the Best film of the year, and Sathy among many countries that competed including Russia, Frar
Damitha Abayratne was adjudged the Best Actress at the Dh
4.
 
 

Or Women
Nobel Committee in awarding the prize to Ebadi gave a clear message not only on women's rights but also lslam and democracy. It said "she sees no conflict between Islam and fundamental human rights"
Human Rights activists around the world hailed the Nobel Committee's decision as of critical importance.
The UN High Commission for Refugees Award
Three Sri Lanka women came into the limelight winning the United Nations High Commission for Refugees Award 2003. They were Ms. Aruni Arulsubramaniam, who works with UNHCR in Trincomalee. Her efforts have been directed towards enabling displaced women to take part in representative Committees in Welfare centres. Ms. Sitralega Maunaguru an advocate for women's rights. She is a founder member of the Suriya Development Centre based in Batticaloa and Ms. N.G. Kamalawathie who works to empower the disabled. They have each been honoured for the promotion of Gender Equality. Their efforts to support displaced persons in our country as a consequence of the civil war have thus been internationally recognised.
Cannes Film Festival Grand Jury Prize
The Cannes Film Festival's Grand Jury prize was awarded to Iranian Samira Makhmalbai, Director of the film "At five in the Afternoon'. She portrayed the plight of women in Afghanistan in the aftermath of the Taliban regime. She has said she wanted to show the world that life in Afghanistan was not like what was shown on TV, that U.S.A. had rescued the people from Taliban. She had found it very different to the US claims and so in her film she focuses on Nagreh, an Afghanistan woman caught between tradition and the modern World.
sial film directed by noka Sathyanganie has won three ival also known as the International Film Festival of Cinamatica
angani as Best Director, the Major Opera Prima - from ce, Italy, China, Japan and England.
aka International Film Festival in Bangladesh.
Pravahini Vol. I2. No. 1 - January 2004

Page 5
The 4th biennial National Conferences T
auditorium in July and
The National Conference in Tamil organised by WERC wa held in July 2003. The theme was "How can one Resolve th Contradictions between an overall Feminist ideology an Social, Cultural and Legal Norms?
The objective of the conference was to encourag researchers, university lecturers, academics and youn researchers from all parts of the island to submit their researc findings and present them as their papers with the aim C sharing information, followed by group discussions, while als providing material for Gender studies and for resolution C conflicts encountered.
The conference was spread through two days in four sessions The presentations were made by senior and other academi staff of the Eastern University and the Jaffna University.
The inaugural session was chaired by Dr. SelvyThiruchandra who explained the objectives of the seminar. After thi introduction, Ms. Ammankili Murugadas, Dean, Easter University read a paper on Women in Society - A Historica Reconstruction. This was followed by papers, which analyze and discussed various aspects of the theme. The interestin information and points of view expressed in each paper forme the basis of much discussion, which was organised as a grou|| exercise. s
At the end of the seminar it was decided to publish a boo Comprising selected papers, for wider circulation.
The French Ban
Human rights and women's rights activists face a challenge in the proposed law that France hopes to pass in Parliament. It is reported that the French government has proposed a ban on the wearing of religious articles of clothing or accessories by students in Schools. As far back as 1989 two students who refused to stop wearing headscarves were suspended from a school in the suburbs of Paris. The ban will be of special concern to students who belong to the Islamic faith and who are obliged to wear the headscarf. Since then more students have been expelled from Schools for this same reason.
The ban however applies only to all public school students in the junior and senior high schools but does not apply to private schools or French schools outside France. The law Says" signs and dress that conspicuously show religious affiliation of students are forbidden. "This would therefore include all forms of costumes and accessories such as Jewish skullcaps, large Christian crosses and Muslim women's headscarves." The punishment envisaged for violations of the law will commence with warnings leading on to temporary suspension and expulsion from school.
Pravahini Vol. 12. No. 1 - January 2004
 
 
 
 

f
&ষ্ট্রঞ্ছঃ
amil and Sinhala - Were held at the WERC )ecember 2003 respectively.
The theme of the National Conference in Sinhala Wąs "Woman and Womanhood in the context of Cultural and Social Space'. It was held in December 2003, covering three sessions through two days.
Senior lecturers from the Departments of Sinhala and Sociology of the University of Colombo and several lecturers from the University of Peradeniya and also two attorneys-atlaw presented research papers and delivered lectures.
Information based on 18th and 19th century women and their skilful use of poetry to confront sexist language and abuse was one presentation, while others discussed topically relevant themes such as socio-cultural changes imposed on women by their relocation in Mahaweli villages as well as the migrant Women workers in the Middle East. Violence incurred on prostitutes was impressively presented with the help of statistics. Aging women and puberty rituals were also interesting Subjects discussed.
The lawyerS Spoke about, female lawyers and humorous episodes with lawyers and judges. Each session Çoncluded with useful debate.
Finally, the UN document CEDAW was also introduced through the Handbook published by WERC.
Selected papers presented at the conference will be included in the WERC Journal, Nivedini.
The French government maintains that the law has been initiated for the purpose of protecting the secular traditions of the country. Further more it is apparently an attempt to curb the growing fundamentalist Islamic attitudes pervading the Frencharena.
The law has already been passed by the Lower House of Parliament. The general opinion is that it will go through the Senate debate successfully in the near future, making its entry into the statute books of the country and will become effective in the School year commencing September 2004.
If and when this happens, will the near fifteen year controversial ban on head carves be settled?
For, this is where the Women's rights activists come in. Which way are they going to move? We see social justice movements too being drawn into the fray.
We ourselves hark back to the themes of our National Conferences reported on this page, which have turned out to be so relevant today and of burning topical interest. We envisage stimulating debate to ensue. "How can one Resolve the Contradiction............. ?"

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*ঃ
omen against Globalisation
The antiglobalisation conference at the World Social Forum (WSF) took place in January 2004 in Mumbai, India. The numbers who gathered at the Conference proved the quote from Pablo Neruda made by Kamla Bhasin, a recognised feminist leader:- "They can Cut all the flowers, but they cannot stop the coming of spring". Such is the strength of the struggle of Women's movements across the globe.
Globalisation they claim has only intensified imperialism and strengthens inequality and exploitation all over the World. The participants agreed that national movements need to coordinate with international efforts such as the WSF, as planned Common campaigns at national level are more effective to fight globalisation.
At the Conference on Women and Globalisation, over 2000 people participated and it provided the space for sharing international experiences on the effect of globalisation on different aspects of women's lives. Among the many speakers who represented several countries such as India, Uruguay, Malaysia and Indonesia, was Sunila Abeysekera of INFORM, a human rights organisation in Sri Lanka, who discussed Sexuality rights.
Indian Economist, Jayati Ghosh Commended the women's movement as the "most progressive and dynamic among the social movements". The results of the resistance against the effects of globalisation she sums up thus:- "Another world is not just possible, it is likely, even inevitable".
The latest information on the issues, campaigns, conferences and other goings-on in the women's movement is provided by "We" the Newsletter from Isis International, Manila, January 2004
Women
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London
The House of Lord
Parliament will be a Guyanan-born bla
This removes the the upper classes v House of Lords was hereditary peers, se Prime Minister Blai
Government has ta
the House of Lords.
Beijing
China's largest Sem group the All China made a 3 year studi violence in Chinese
that it was a Commc 38.4% of spouses a to violence when a (
occurred which was every few months. 4 for unreasonable be agreed that husban resort to violence fo nour. If beaten by th said they would res
They seldom discus recurrence althoug they would consult to settle domestic vi very few would Seel the legal system.
Sri Lanka
Pleasant news rega the Middle East is a So a report of an ev honour a Sri Lanka host country, Riyac change from dolefu reach us.
While being injured house maid's imm to get the employer safety, rescuing th
6
 
 
 
 

s, of the British ed by Valerie Amos, ck Woman.
Drivilege enjoyed by where in the past the s composed solely of cured by birthright. 'S Labour ken steps to reform
iOfficial women's Women's Federation y on domestic Society and found
) OCCU rr6e C6e. dmitted to resorting disagreement s as often as Once
3.7% blamed wives haviour while 25.5% ds had a right to r a wife's misdemea
Ieir wives 48.2% men
Ortto violence.
ssed ways to avoid a h the majority said friends and relatives
olence. However chelp from police or
urding housemaids in
l rare OCCUrren Ce. ent organised to n housemaid in the dh, was a welcome | stories that usually
in a bomb blast thes
ediate reaction was 's two children to em from upstairs
and handing them over to security officials. This act of bravery by twenty eight year old Sunila Dissanayake certainly deserved the appreciation and recognition of the Sri Lankan Embassy.
女★费女★女★女★
The new Supreme Court Judge, Justice Shirani Thilakawardene, was Welcomed at a ceremonial sitting of the Supreme Court in December 2003. In her Address on this occasion she said, "We recognise that in the past Women and children have been discriminated against and minority rights abused. Those interests of groups lacking in political power often have their right overlooked and their rights to equal concern and respect violated. But many judgements around the globe seek to set aright these past injustices."
In concluding she had quoted Kofi Annan who, speaking at the 50th Anniversary of the Charter of Human Rights had said, "Human Rights are African Rights; they are also Asian rights. They are European rights they are American rights. They belong to no government. They are limited to no continent, for they are fundamental to human kind itself."
India
When this young Indian woman Archana Ramasundaram joined the Police Service, it was deemed an unusual career for a woman. Today she is the Joint Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, and perhaps more importantly an activist determined to end discrimination against women. Ms. Ramasundaram recognising that most women suffer discrimination due to poverty, poor health and traditional rites made it her mission to improve the way the police force handles violence against Women. She believed that thẹ responsibility of Police officials is most important as they are the first to come into an investigation.
Pravahini Vol. 12. No. 1 - January 2004

Page 7
Women only
Sabaya. Cafå 15 Jordan's "Women only C0f Hee ::Foxi, Here Wormer). Carn ea!, (drink and listen to Tusic and talk and laugh. | other coffee shops in this conservative SOCiety, the WOIT1 en must always be orn their guard, restricted in movement and Constantly under scrutiny. Sabaya was Opened by a woman, Ham in Majah, in a trendy shopping area and displays a sign which clearly says that men are TCI Wols CT E. While WC men Car Carrie in
unaCCompanied. Seven young Waitresses are employed by her, Mon-alcoholic drinks sweets and light Teals are
Served ill the early hours Cof C}3. Wrth. Ham in claims that it is her dream to see
Women trCT) all walks of life mest in a
relaxed at hosphere, chatting, gossiping joking ard E Vem smoking, mostly the hubble-bubble of the Water pipe. To COFTI I lë të H. E dream she searched for a
ferial TTL:i:ia, 1 to tertain er clierints
It failedardistead hird Elid Täl:
TLI:i:ia! The WCritéri e'weri 3:1 ir 1:e si F1E
3:3y: 3 90y the TSelweg Without mer|
Spying af CLInd.
Gelder Sensiti We ParkS
Parks in Wierra (Austri: ) are: being re-designeri. A prija: Luciệrtak Eri huy wÖmer &Öğciolog]ist:5. City planılır:rs and local government offices seeks to make På rk: 3Fifer for girls and WOTEn Å COmpetitiar en lilled Gerder Specific Park. Desigri" provided the input for the planning format. Based on girls' int: Tests ir Spits and leis Lira activities and prowi di Ing a better sense Cf Safety, the parks lighting systern has bSan SI FIHr1:: Id for b) Etter yisibility and this: :fov:3iČIT Čf Č III: T1 T1 LJlti-fi III:ti:rn:l planing a CCEssi trÈ:dLC2 si ri crime. Planned with insight into behavioural psychology and its relation to Ivironmental designing the new look
park: : T inter dei 10 reduca the fa arand the raidences of crisie, thius improving r:ll's first the quality of life for Women and girls,
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atleshi Wo I'll en protest against trafficking
in women
it group of Women Police Officers on parade
guns in hand

Page 8
Women's Education and Researc Centre is Wited
LakShi Holstro for a la Cture,' di SCUSSİON 01 Women's Writing with Special Reference to Bama'
Dr. Selwy Thiruchandran, Executive Director, WERC, introducing the speaker stated that Lakshmihails from
India, holds a first degree in English Literature, and that her post-graduate work at Oxford University was on R.K. Marayaman. Since them her Concerns hawe been Women's
Writing from liidiä äid Tar Til literatur irn generäl,
Läkshir Ti Corintinued frTil there to say how she turried to her
short story translations, She had dong bits and pieces of
translatio aid it had been a satural progressio into
translation. Her first translation was the Yellow Fish' by
ël 13ther popular Indian Writer Ambai and the Cart 1e her anthology "The Inner Courtyard' a collection of short stories
ty Indian Worther, She worked with the authors to find out their intentions in respect of the Work as a whole in order to convey the correct individual voice and style of the original. which is the most difficult aspect of translation.
Lakshmi selected the book "Karukku" by Barta which is a metaphor for pair and anger and analysed it. She spoke of how she beca The interested in it before she translated
Karukku. She had been is pressed by what had become known as Dalit writing in Tamil and took to translating
'Karukku" by Bartha, herself a Dalit woman.
She said it was both a challenge and privilege to have worked of this novel, and she had the opportunity to meet the author Bama. Bama's Writing she said intended to change the hearts and minds of people and 12 bring about a change in the oppressed class. She does not make any r:Gr 1re:ior betwo Hr. Caste and gender. She IS single-Thindad focussed on caste oppression within the church and speaks about experiences of Dalit men and Women in church. She said though they are of that class, men and Women, have a way of expressing their respect in their speech. Dalit women are always Wulnerable and involved in an unending struggle, The translation of 'Karukku" by Lakshmi is on the
Crossword Book Award shortlist.
She also spoke about Sangati' dealing with the story on gender and the community of Dalit women and also of "Kisumbukkaaran stories about the experiences of Dalitmer and women, She gave us an idea that though they are Dalit Inter and womer, they too were of a respectable class
amongst themselves.
8

Call to Women
From the National Committee of Women (NCW) (Ministry of Women's Affairs)
READ
The Women's Rights Draft Bill and share With us your opinions and Suggestions." The Bill seeks to protect and promote Women's rights - to ensure the full development and advancement of Women guaranteeing them the exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms on a basis of equality with men.
Its main objectives are
• Equal rights
• Employment and Training
• Protection of Rights and Protection from Sexual
hara SSment
• Land Ownership rights
0 Women's charter
Prir of liv i 1. 2. Wr». I - Warri fry" ('s'-H

Page 9
A Hanib puk Understanding CEDAW
LLLLL L0LLL LLLLaLH LLLH LLL L LLLLLLLLH LLL gLL LLLL0L Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), adopted in 1: by the UN General Assembly was ratified by Sri Lank 1981. Sri Lanka was the 20" country to ratify it and as e as 1981, yet the equality that it promises to Women has been made known to society. One of the reasons for thi that the Corts of the Tataria | O || CEDAW IS W acade Tic and mot-reader friendly.
The WERC project on CEDAW aimed at disseminating message of this document, among Women and mer Warious levels of society with a special focus on the your generation,
A reader friendly handbook therefore has been desig to produce a comprehensive understanding of CEDAW its relgwalce to Sri Lanką. THC LIN document is 10W simplified for in with meaningful illustrations. It will strategically distributed to school students especial secondary schools, young adults particularly in universi and others in the MGOs and the government sector. method was: Fijipated as as Enlightning The Earnd Wor LaL La eLrLLLLL SLLL LLLLL LeeaLHLLaLLLaLHH LLLLLLa LLLLLL LL LLLLL S before corf: Corint Emplates in Corporating it into the dorne legislation in the rear future,
The book |laurich of "Understanding CEDAW" Was helt 00S LLLLGLLLLLLL 0000S SLLLL LLL LLLS LLLLLLLLLS LLLLLL Mutletuwegiana, an attorney at law reviewed the bc After w Fili: F1 thre was a discussioni regarding usefulness of the book. The participants included officials from the Ministry of Education.
This was followed by introducing the handbook to a C Section of society at different venues - the teacher train of Pas dumrata College of Higher Education, the particip: Of Women Studies Certificate Coursg at WERC, teachers and prefects of South lar his Balika Widyala- G the Police Officers of Ararai District. It was also introdu to a cross section of society in Kaпody, Ldaru Media Gr groups of NGO members, MPC field Officers, teachers M3) Jersel (f Battiala.
L aLL LLL LLLL LL LLLLLLLLSS LLLLLLLH LLLLLL LLLLLL Tiary years, would receive wider attention, from a W group of people, which would hopefully pave the Wayf Wider usage of the document,
Prair Trailii r i lr II. I-2. No. I - Marzu Iry 2 (JI

79
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Media Interwention Addressing Gender Inequality
The media, especially the electronic media, is very Tuch into traditional representation of Women, While
eIT phasizing the role of mother and wife, Women are relegated to wery limited areas. This has two effects. They fall into stereotypical moulds and make Women accept their roles without challenge through a
process of internalization. This leaves out a Whole range of Women and their roles as plantation Workers, Tigrant Workers, women lawyers al rd WQ Tri Ger" professionals,
While on the One hand gender is receiving Tuch attention as a system of analysis both in the development and social scientific theories, what the electronic media does is to put back the motion of history with disastrous consequences. Women are the losers. There is a need, especially in the Tamil electronic media, to mak interwentions thereby
Correcting the status of gender representation. Herce, Women's Education & Research Centre organised a series of discussions, analysis and presentations of alternative ideas, through a panel program with a
pre5епteг.
It Was proposed to cower Warious socio-economic and SOCiØ- political ISSLIES Tanging from qEnder and labCLIr to UN mechanism such as the Beijing Platform of action, CEDAW, to women's political participation. The discussions Were ai Ted mot only to raise Consciousness of mem and Worm gem, but alsO tO motivate and activate them into performing Tore
meaningful roles as active citizens of Sri Lanka,
The project expects to have thirteen television prograr Ti Ties to focus public attention on Telewarnt gender issues through the Tamil television channel Shakthi - MTV. This project expects to facilitate an Orgoing discussion of Critica | issues pertaining t} Women's rights amongst Tamil speaking population,
Wideo recordings will be inade available for use as
training tools.

Page 10
A Change-over for Ramiah
Ramiah Our faithful office aide has been With US 10 years He has of his OWI accord included for himself the dutie: of peon, watcher, errand boy and general factotum, an we would add personal welfare officer to the staff anc Executive Director, in short he considers himsel responsible for all of WERC. His loyalty to the institutior and the staff is admirable as is his integrity and obliging Tanner. He would go out of his way to help and is lawist With his advice for our wellbeing and personal safety.
In spite of advancing years his pace was always bris and one would newer find hirt seated -he Would at leaS be filling up our glasses of Water, putting a chair straigh or advising our canine watchers on matters of goos
behavio Lur.
Ramiah was a musing and at times officious but we tolerated it all because of his warm and generous nature Whenever he had to wisit a staff The Tibér at home Cl official duty he would always bring a little gift, an apple, few toffees or a packet of Crunchies.
Rarthiah has now gone on transfer to Batticaloa, to Tlal our project office there for the duration of the 'Skill: Training and Counselling for Women' Programme,
He has settled down happily and as is his Wont he make. himself wery useful and is popular with the people he nov has to Work with, His Flappiest moments still are whe WER C staff of the Director herself wisits the projec office, ever through it is not so often. Nevertheless Ramial keeps in touch with regular calls to inquire after each one' health, and never forgets to send a card of good wishe aL LLLLLLLK 0LeLLLLLLaLLS SLLL LLLL LLLLLL LLL LLLLLLL
Col Cerigid f_T his Welir.
Batticolod Office Staff with Raniah
r] []
 

S
λέι, Ι. αγγλιΑερν
Kathi þefi, hertholtghf.......
My name is Kathi Radmuller. I am from the South of Germany, I am just 18 years old and still in school. Before finish my last year for the A-Level decided to do a Woluntary serwice in Sri Lanka With WERC for six Til this,
As I arrived everything was totally different for me. The climate, the way of living, the habits. I felt like in a totally different World.
It was difficult to be a foreigner. Sometimes the people treat you like a stranger. That means I got to know how to feel when you are different from the mass. I can Understand better now how a foreigner feels in Tly OWr Country.
As arrived at WERC, I was warmly welco Ted and introduced to everything by our Executive Director, Dr. Selwy. Thiruchandran. At WERC I found a new faTily. I feel quite happy there.
I'm still a student so I had no Work experience, I am expecting that my voluntary service here in Sri Lanka will help The to get to know what I Want to do in Thy future. My work at WERC is very varied. That was wery useful for my further Working-life because I collected a lot of different experiences. I got to know how to be a librarian, helped to arrange and handle stocktaking and Book Sales. and checking outstanding bills of Our Customers, learl Know how to organise a bouk launch. I hope I was useful to WERC too,
| also made a round trip through Sri Lanka. I wisited the ancient cities, the hill country and the south inclusive of a national park, It is fascinating, how Tarıy things yOL Can find in Sri Lanka and the stories al CLI the -ld Ceylon are really wery interesting. The cool climate in the hill country with its beautiful landscape, the jungle and the Wild animals unbeliewable that all these things are in One Country of this size
But there is also another thing that impressed The a lot. Whenever you come to a home of a family as a guest, they treat you with such friendliness and make everything so pleasant that you feel wery Flagpy there. That is totally different to the usual European Way, Everything that I expected has bug:: EXC:ll:Cid, si: || Will definitely come back to this beautiful country and all the nice people whom will riss so Tuch,
Last but mot least, | Want to thank WERC for a Werything. This will be an unforgettable experience for me!
Prair 'ffair i 1. 2. Nr. I — „Wer Ferry fil

Page 11
NEWARRIVAL TO THE LIBRARY
Feminist Under Fire ; exchanges across war zones, edited by Wenona Giles and others. Toronto, Canada, Between the Lines, 2003
Feminist under fire is about women living and working in conflict zones. Focussing on the civil wars in Sri Lanka and the former Yugoslavia, diverse authors face the problems of nationalism, ethnic conflict and militarized violence. They explore commonalties and differences between the two regions and consequences for women, their societies and feminist politics.
Cottons and Casuals; the gendered organization of labour in time and space, by Miriam Glucksmann. Durham, Sociology Press 2000. Cottons and casuals develops an analytical framework which can also inform sociological understanding of contemporary change in the social organisation of work. . The author examines changes in the organisation of domestic production and consumption, the use of technology, housing, family structure, gender relations and inter-generational mother-daughter relations. Differing temporalities of work are highlighted as are their far-reaching effects for the organisation of peoples' lives and life courses.
Essays in Indian History : Towards a
Marxist Perception, by Irfan Habbib .
New Delhi, Tulika Books, 2000.
What gives this collection such unity is the author’s effort to interpret the main currents of Indian History from a standpoint which belongs to the Marxist tradition ofhistoriography. This volume
brings together author's seminal essays
published over a span of some thirty
years.
Tamil Heroic Poetry Kailasapathy. Colombo, Kumaran Book
by K.
House, 2002. The book attemp to interpret anci author has appro by relating them of heroic poetr especially the Gr him to place perspective. Th poetry of South II hitherto been neg
I want to speak
writers for Ann R
Gerard Robuch
2003
Anne a write1
particularly cor violence againsth She intensively en in English during with 50 write
abroad - from O
of all continents
50 years in Sri La
Sri Lankan Ethn
Resolution by F Trafford Publishi
His book is a fr history and politi produced its curi It is an easy-to-re date book that
burning questi committed to fir
to the crisis.
Selected Essay Seneviratne.
Enterprises, 2001
The “Selected Es
from her weekly c newspapers. M topical and rela
tragedy of the cu.
Thin Weils
and the wicked
: in t
activism)by Sum 2001
Her work is a
narrative, politic
is a winner of th
Pravahini Vol. 12. No. 1 - January 2004
 

is both to introduce and
int Tamil poems. The ached the poems afresh to an important studies y in other languages eek, which has enabled
them in a proper is is a study of heroic Indian people which has lected.
of tenderness -50
edited by on. Colombo, ICES.
anasinghe
: in Sri Lanka was
lcerned by whatever uman and living beings. gaged in writing poetry g the 1970s. This book ers from here and
ver a dozen countries
commemorate Anne's
nka.
ic Crisis : towards a
R. B. Herath. Canada, ng 2002.
ank reflection on the
Lics of Sri Lanka that has
"ent tragic ethnic crisis. ad, concise and up-to
has answers to the ons raised by those lding a lasting solution
Maureen
Wimal
7s, by
Colombo,
says are culled mostly ontributions in the daily any of the essays are te to the trauma and
rrent times
the shadow of the gun il witch (performing athy. Colombo, ICES.
bout the power of s, woman and land. She
e Gratiaen Award 2001
Training Materials available at WERC
0 Violence Against Women -
English, Tamil and Sinhala
Women in Conflict SituationEnglish and Sinhala
0 Women and Education -
English
Women and Law - English
and Tamil
0 Politics Decision Making and
Governance-English, Sinhala and Tamil
0 Cultural Constraint and Media
-Sinhala and Tamil
0 Video Cassettes (Tamil)
Discussions on Gender related
themes
محر۔ - ܠ
WERC Evaluation 2003
WERC held an internal evaluation at
the end of December 2003. It was conducted by the WERC consultants, and a discussion based on the report, took place at a special staff meeting on January 3" 2004.
The Executive Director presided and explained the purpose ofan evaluation. She pointed out that, it was not to find fault with staffnor to be judgemental. It is rather a forward movement in the development of the organisation with meaningful reflection on the past. It gives staffan opportunity to question themselves within their own consciousness rather than question others. The whole exercise is therefore
meant to be a corrective and remedial
process, she said.
The report was read by the Consultants and the staff was requested to comment on the observations made therein and the suggestions which followed. They voiced their independent views and a useful discussion ensued. Many practical suggestions were made for future improvements in several areas of WERC activities.
11

Page 12
重JER為灰J
Fотуоит техf. Research, Article, Book,
Speech Resources
Bataks and Information oıı
Gildr H Child & Youth
| Politică | Media M Religion bo Sociology
- Women's Studics
For Lick reference Dictionaries/Encyclopedias Research Reports Theses / Directories
| Special collection om WoIII1 cm’s
Writingin Sri Lanka
Documentation Ncws clipping oil violence, suicides human rights FTZ, Women, Trafficking in women, migrantworkers
Documented JULITICIAlrticles froп EPW Formiilisin and
Psychology, Rethinking History,
Himal/Gender and Society, Monthly Review citc.
Audio Visuals: documentaries
and Features all Feature films
Un wonnen issues, h, LuInALin rights,
eth Inicity etc.
Whily fill cilitics for Reading & reference work for Incon rimenı bers Information through telephone or fax, Inter Library Loan facilities Photocopying at cost
Computer printout of reading list Loan membership
O
Reference/referral services.
welcome
A warm welcometc Coordinator for the
Warin Wishes
Our best wishes and tçı Helela Alwis Adr Coordinal Lor.
ب"
R
We
C
The WERC. Audit
Fully air condi Public Addres: Overhead Proj Translating U TW and WCRF Magi and Flip Recording facil A seating capacity of 50 .
Women's Education & Research Centre # 58, Dharmarama Road, Colombo 6, Sri Lanka
Tբl.
94 Ol 259.5296, 2596826
Fax 94.01. 25963 13 Email womedregisltnet.lk, wercait min.com
12

Malathy Bhavananthan who joins WERC as South Asian Feminist Researcher's Association.
thanks for the services rendered to WERC go out ministrative Officer and Sulakshana de Mel SAFRA
eaders Comments
welcome your comments
on Pravahini Please write/sax/e-mail
WERC address below We will publish them in this column.
RC ÀQUDDUPORQUDNA Seminars, a Workshops, a Awareness Programmes,
Film shows, Meetings etc.
brium offers you the following facilities - tioIled SSystem complete with Microphones and Ear Phones ectors
nit
acilities
ChartBoards
ity
Ivailable with conference tables and an airy and spacious dining lrea to accommodate the same number. seas, Tea could be slippied a reliest
Pra yra Jiri kool. I 2. No. I - Jar Euary 2f(a)-s