Page 1
PRAVAHINI
Newsletter of WERC
T Parliamentary elections
2004 have come and gone
and it is with almost a sense of despair that We review this exercise with special relevance to Women aspirants to parliament in particular and Women in general.
It is only too Well known that Sri Lankan Women have had a flimsy record in politics. The percentage of Women representation in local government, provincial Councils and the state assembly throughou the years has shown a poor result with the figurenewer rising above 5%, inspite of the 52% female population, so much S0, these facts hawe become Commonplace.
Nevertheless in the run up to the elėCOTS WOT er åČtwiss ärld Women's move Tents and groups Were Out in full force appealing, demanding rationalising and persuading political parties and state agencies to include WOThen in their nomination lists and the mational list and the public to Wote for WOThen. The response see Ted enCOUsaging at that stage as the Consensus of all parties and state organisations seemed to be a SiTCEre derland fOf TOfe Worter| to participate in the legislative and decision making positions.
However, in the frenzy of the election campaign a Woman's name hardly surfaced, Women Were roundly ignored as "no-win' figures. The same die hard attitude that has always persisted brought hardly a handful of Women into the fray. Though Women were wery much in Wolved in the campaigning men merely stepped on their shoulders to reach political power. So another election ended with absolutely no significant change in the position of
WOITnen Wis-å- wis political ΕΠημαWEΓ- ΠΙΕηl.
Yet a few redeeming features were detected at the elections 2004 as far as Womērm Wêre ConCermed. Wiolence in various forms Which Was rampant in earlier years at elections was greatly reduced. The Culture of election Wilence is One of the prime reasons which delars Women from seeking nomination. Action to eliminate the display of posters and erection of larger than life Tonstrosities of candidates did Tuch to keep tempers Cool. PTOCESSIONS WETE Timimäl ård should certainly be Cut Out completely to avoid provoking unnecessary fervour, This trend for less Wocifer Lus and le SS provocative features in election campaigning is a long felt need and signifies a Todicum of decorum during the COLuntry's elections. This indeed lends SOThe
ConfidemCel t0 WONTEN WhO (ONCE shunned political activity. There were also the courageous Women contestants, who by example gawe personal encouragement to potential aspirants (On the side lines and the "all Women party' who took the initiative to offer nomination to Women. Though their efforts Tay not hawe made am impact the significance of their assertiveness was not lost and WDrthy of Commendation.
The slightly more Congenial election climate which eTierged could help to attract more WOTher to Corne for Ward. But these hopeful indicators are obviously no in any Way sufficient to claim that Women hawe made any Worthwhile
hig
(Pruvasiini Tös12 'o, 2 -july 2004
 
 

July 2004
WO|- 12 No. 2
pgress. MeWerthele gurs Well and needs to be Weloped.
ather han lamenting the fate of men after every election, viously more aggressive 'ategies are called for, for more sitive results. It is that mmitment to gender and gender uality as a concept that is king in Our people both at the ghest levels of Society and the an/Woman in the street. They :Éd () İbibê the intri SiC WälLJE gender, which will then manifest elfim thêİT Outlook, ård åttitudė.
it is, if one speaks to any !rSCOn man Or WOImam just beyond
influeCe Cf the WCOTler's 30s, gEnder activists of ) Ten's TOWeTents One Will
ceive that be used look which eets one's gender-laced talks as they were fairy tales. Basically ra traditionally patriarchal polity ch as ours, itis the attitude Wards gender and gender |Luality that has to change. A Oregender friendly attitude must - aimed at to make the concept gender equality second nature fore any positive results could
expected.
is situation points to the !Cessity for new strategies and Iecial Teasures that require
ention which will lead to gOIOUS and Sustained Campaigns ganised for the purpose of Creasing political participation of
ΠΠΕ.Π.
Omen quotasis One such easure and the lobbying for 25%
itself, is notsufficient. It hasto
WOTien in the Fegislature and
parlamentisnow acceptedin principle in Sri Lanka. However acceptance of a quota system in
become law to fulfil the quota system Women, who feel confident and equal to take the challenge must be in readiness. Hence training Women to equip themselves for leadership roles is essential and needs to be promoted. The UN rėŠČolution Om Women's Political Role (Oct 2003) focuses on training them "to wote, govern and adwOcate effectively," and this training is seen as a "civic responsibility", so that Women can compete in politics. This is one of the basic requirements Our Women lack and a short Coming which has since become an excuse formale dominated partiesto by pass Women. It is indeed absolutely necessary that the government and civil society teach Women how to equip themselves, how to run campaigns and Combat the many obstacles that they Will| hawe lO contend with. To see any WOrth While ir Čirašė ir WONTEN'S participation in politics in Sri Lanka a great deal of basic issues yet remain to be tackled-inspite of the smallwanguard of Women Who took up the challenge and braved the 2004 elections.
The Political ProCess I iiiiiiiiiiii 1 Gender Mainstreaming 2 El ... 3 India's Woman ■ Death be not proud n. 4. Women breakthrough a 5. * Pii iభ5 իբր լեյր էր է: ... 7
Skills Training on 8
TIL AT Staff Bay Out Women's studies in May Arrivals

Page 2
Gender Mainstreaming as
G ender mainstreaming is a very fashionable term now used by the developmentalists, NGOs and the state. It is believed that attempts, efforts are being made by well meaning people who they claim by implication are gender sensitive. In short Gendermainstreaming is the process and procedure of incorporating the gender perspective into politics as a whole. Comprehensively it means that efforts should be taken to advance gender equality in every ministry and organisation involved in decision making. Adhering to the principle of filtering down theory it is envisaged that parity of status in gender relations will be achieved not only in the polity of a Country but also in the socio-economic sectors as well.
The Sri Lankan government had a "policy of focal points on gender" enunciated in all the ministries to take charge of Contemporary and impending gender disparities. A Woman bureaucrat was appointed/selected for this task but we never, heard of any of their activities though there were many issues that needed attention.
in taking gender mainstreaming very seriously developmental agencies such as the UNDP, ADB, World Bank and others had responded positively by having a gender component in their deliberations and went to the extent of hiring gender consultants. But the process lacked sufficient commitment. It finally resulted in adding and stirring gender initiatives into the main body of the documents prepared by gender insensitive "specialists" who were hired already before the entry of the gender specialists. The process thereafter was Conflict resolution and not integrating gender.
Another View
i
Marnie Girvan, Gender Specialist Ontario, Canada titled making through the gender management system, at a Sen
Ms. Girvan referred to the relevant paragraphs of the Beijing Platform for Action: "In addressing the inequality between men and women in the sharing of power and decision-making at all levels, Government and other actors should promote an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective in all policies and programmes So that before decisions are taken, an analysis is made of the effects on women and men, respectively" She commented on the poor representation of women at decision making levels and the low representation in parliamentary and local bodies in Sri Lanka. She suggested that the quota System if activated would be a useful tool. She noted that there has not been any significant improvement in the situation over the last few decades.
MS. Girvan then mentioned the 1995 Commonwealth Plan of
Action on Gender Development which presented a vision of "a world in which woman and men have equal rights and
2
 
 
 

a Concept and practice
however at the level of the Sri Lankan state and the political society there is a need to take gender mainstreaming seriously.
The example of Germany is worth illustrating - initiated by he Green party, more and more women were encouraged to 2nter political institutions. As members of the German Bundestag one third of seats of the 602 members are women. Wost interestingly the demand for the quotas in Germany ame within the political parties. The Women's lobby succeeded in their campaign to influence the political parties. she three political parties agreed on principle to concede Juotas to Women members The Green party gave 50% of ickets to women. Social Democratic party(SDP) 40% and he Christian Democratic Union(CDU) 25%. The women, it has to be emphasised, crossed party lines to agree on reform/ aws on typically gender issues such as marital rape, the ight to abortion and separate budgetary allocation for the mplementation of gender equality.
This is a lesson that male dominated political parties and rade unions in Sri Lanka must learn. Perhaps the Sri Lankan state which is headed by a woman President for the second ime should also take note of this. In addition to having the Women's Bureau, National Committee on Women and a Winistry for Women's Affairs, the state has to listen to the voices of the women's movement which is lead by a number of Women's organisations, and also learn from the experiences and good practices of other countries.
T
her presentation "Mainstreaming gender in Decision hinar organised by CENWOR in February 2004. opportunities at all stages of their lives, to express their Creativity in all fields of human endeavour, and in which Women are respected and valued as equal and able partners in establishing values of Social justice equity, democracy and respect for human rights."
It is the process of bringing a gender perspective in to the mainstream activities of government at the policy programme and project levels. Gender mainstreaming she explained means "taking women into consideration in all areas of Government activity, NGO, private sector, joining initiatives with Donors: any type of initiatives involving thinking about how initiatives will affect Women"
Expanding on this, she said activists should insist when any plans are being made for any activity to focus on questions such as how these would affect women and men differently in short this activity should be as open to women as to men. This Ms. Girvan pronounced as true gender mainstreaming.
ሞንazaffnff ፃፊ/12፵Ø 2-ፓuff2004

Page 3
Gender Sensitive Code of
The UKS Women's Research, Resource and Publication Centre (Islamabad) organised a regional conference in May 2004 with the aim of the Formulation and Implementation of a Gender Sensitive Code of Ethics for the Print Media. Participants came from the SAARC Countries as Well aS Afghanistan and Iran. The conference, focussing on replacing the discriminatory attitude towards women in their country with equal participation in all spheres of activity, provided a platform for regional perspectives on gender insensitivity. It was to be an opportunity to share regional challenges and experiences and to benefit by them.
project was to be following objective
"TO networ journalists, OW news publicati them on board a gender-sens ethics and Cre for the need fo Code of ethics.
To highligh blindness of th Code of Practi recommendati gender-sensiti
To blend th
recommendati present docum commitments media for its e
The media in Islamabad, the centre Continuing im
noted, has never had a well
formulated code of ethics and the The Centre is looki
print media has never taken a valuable lessons fr gender sensitive approach. This conference for draf conference was, therefore planned Ethics and achievi to initiate a full year's program to evolving a gender formulate and implement a 'gender media which willp sensitive Code of Ethics. The more balanced app
question of gender
J interesting News
Going back to the origin of books or the written word, the clay tablets of the Sumerians dating back to around 3000 B.C. are recorded as the first writings. These contain the epic of Gilgamish which today has been translated into English and German e-books! Interestingly it is reported that the first writer in the world, by name, was a woman, Enhedunna. She lived more than 5000 years ago and wrote a poem to Goddess Inana on the wet clay tablets, Significantly, it has been found that she had also written her name on the clay tablet. It leaves a doubt, of course, whether there were others before her.
Pavastini vå/12 V6, 2-7u4/2004

thics for the Print Media
uided by the
S. Dr. Selvy Thiruchandran, Director
of WERC attended the Conference
with and in her presentation spoke of
ers/editors of the poor situation of women in the
ns to bring print media in Sri Lanka and the
to work towards lack of sensitivity to gender.
live code of
te aWarene SS It may be mentioned here that a
a professional booklet was published by WERC in
1999 - Code of Ethics for Gender
the gender Representation in the Electronic P present Ethical Media. It contained suggestions le, and Seek and practical guidelines to help the ons for making it electronic media to place
fe. themselves as educators, reformerS eSe and role models. A copy of this ons into the booklet was presented by the ent and get Director of WERC to the Uks RRP by the print Centre. It was graciously accepted ffective and by the organisation as a model to blementation." Work On.
ng forward to In Sri Lanka, though the electronic Om the
media personnel accepted the ting the Code of suggestions laid out its impact has ng their goal of hardly been felt. It is indeed, a hard sensitised print fight in the face of sensational and
guided by a stereotyped productions which have proach to the become TV tradition.
Congratulations
Sri Lanka was elected for the first time in 25 years of the Norld Congress sessions of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) held in Athens last week when Sri Lankan jelegates Rossane Therese Koelméver AnderSiOn, Associate Editor (Features), Sunday Observer and delegate rom the Federation of Media Employees Trade Unions FMETU) was elected to the post of Reserve Advisor for Ais. She was also the first Sri Lankan to be invited as a panel speaker to the Congress to speak on gender equality in ournalism, building solidarity for gender equality and issues of conflict strategies for confronting the challenges of globalisation, the role of training and how gender issues could be brought into the mainstream of the IFJ programmes.
, Daily Mirror 15th June 2004
3.

Page 4
Death be not proud....
Celebrating the life, work and spirit of Kamalini Wijetilleke and
Monica Ruwanpathirana - two Women whose loss will create a large void in the women's
In their own arenas each of them expended their talents to a p their focus on women, lived life to the full in the sense that they satisfaction in serving society and achieved fulfilment in the lim years allotted to each, undaunted by the cruelty of life. We ren they lived
Kamalini Wijeyatilleke, a lawyer by profession was better know feminist researcher, with a variety of interests in the field of wom As a founder member of Women in Need(WIN) she counselled wo of domestic violence for several years. She later worked as a c legal and gender issues and as a gender trainer to man organisations. She was very much involved in interacting with v different fields organising legal/gender programmes lead empowerment of women.
Kamalini was also involved in the formulation of the Women's Sri Lanka and was a member of the National Committee Internationally she networked with women in South - Asian Co was a leading figure in the Sri Lanka NGO Forum. She was als of the delegation to the UN-CEDAW to present Sri Lanka's sha She was in recent years a member of the Board of CENWOR, initiated a number of projects with her vast experience in the field against Women. All of her multifarious activities cannot be rec but are well known to those who worked with her and benefitt enthusiasm. Her work was characteristically without fan fá achievements will live after her.
Monica Ruwanpathirana has been hailed as the poetess of the in the field of Sinhala poetry, and is regarded as unsurpassed b since Gajaman Nona, the famed poetess of the South. Almost all Work Comprised Sinhala poetry and a few other writings which h her three state Literary Awards.
Her anthologies are claimed as some of the best collections of poet poetic genius embodies a feminist facet much to be admired.
Through her poetry and her writings we see her empathy for ot the less fortunate. This is poignantly conveyed in "Asan Pattini where she takes the pleading of a woman burdened by hardlife to th to ask for long life to enable her to help in making life better for a
She was a dedicated social worker as well. Attached to Konr. Stiftung NGO as a development officer her concern for the welfar in the slums around the city and the remote rural villages was programmes she organised for their upliftment. She strove to status in life, to ward against the ill effects of the open econon were subjected to.
She followed it up by writing several booklets to help them which we and distributed among the women. From this environment she gathe for her poetic artistry.
Monica would have had a vision of much more to give both to World and to humanity... but let us celebrate the legacy she has for posterity.

phere.
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republished -red material
the literary left behind
India's Woman - Sonia
In neighbouring India the familiar figure of Ms. Sonia Gandhi has suddenly dazzled South Asian politics. To women and especially to us her closest neighbours she stands out above all, a shining example of a true woman leader. With undaunted courage she faced innumerable challenges to her position both personal and in public life.
Sonia Gandhi is the woman of the hour, worthy to be admired, to be classically understood and emulated. It was with reluctance that she chose to enter politics and to take the leadership role, to head the Congress in the place of her husband Rajiv Gandhi. She doused her personal feelings and rose to the occasion. Congress wanted a Gandhi to boost their morale to carry the legacy left by Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.
And So, as leader of the opposition CongreSS, which for over ten years was struggling to regain its original acceptance in the hearts and minds of the people as the pioneer of the Indian independence movement, Sonia with deliberate determination but quiet endeavour reached out to the people she chose to be her allies. She led her party with a sincere vision towards the goal of secularism or religious equality no less than to a promise of economic stability - the original foundations of her party. The Congress victory took India and the world by surprise. The reasons attributed to the success of the party have been analysed by many political observers but the fact remains that a woman of the highest integrity was the non-violent force and undaunted Spirit behind it all.
Then all the world waited expectantly to see her victory lead her on, in the order of political happenings, to become Prime Minister of the largest democracy. She however saw it as a challenge presented to her as her non-Indian ethnicity was blown up to prove her unsuitability for the position. With womanly intuition and political acumen she sensed the possible rift both within her party and the country at large.
She saw herself in a controversial position threatening to put into second place the ideals of secularism, economic stability and unity of the country to which she had dedicated herself. This was the moment Sonia Gandhi rose above all other leaders, putting country before self, declining the Premiership with the devastating yet ennobling words
"power in itself has never attracted me nor has position been my goal. My aim has always been to defend the secular foundation of our nation and the poor of our country."
ምነazaffng ዓፊ/12፵Ø 2-ፓuff20ጋ4

Page 5
Woman, break through
Were you there, were youthere?
Woman vulnerable
Lies on her bed
The glass ceiling above Through it she sees A beautiful little girl Dancing, Dancing - three year old Enter the Black Beast, the White tourist "Aids my friends, I do not want' Innocence destroyed, the little girl coils
Were you there, were you there l
From the side dances in The young woman draped in saree Is she Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim Who knows, who cares - BUT she is a Body That is the problem, that is the solution How asks, the woman lying on the bed The problem how to protect her virginity There's a war, soldiers need recreation There's globalisation, the more you give The more your profits. We need foreign exchange, Beautiful figure, the nimble fingers The smart Secretary.
Were you there, Were you there !
What is the solution? Asks the woman lying on the bed She is an asset, makes a good mother, a faithful wife Continues the line, conditioned to be fooled. The Muslim Father finds her man The Tamil Father's son gives the dowry The Sinhala Father sells the land The girl no choice, invisible, only body Very much for public sale.
Were you there, Were you there !
The scene changes The girl still young, haggard over the kitchen fire Little ones dancing around happy and full of fun No space to call her own. The night creeps in, the children sleep around The woman at the table, with head down, half sleep Covered food for two
She waits, she waits ...
Strides in the chief, full of life and cheer
The woman sits up, fear in her eyes The kids wake up sleepy and afraid
Pravafilini Mb/L2 WØ. 2-Wulý 2004

the ceiling to freedom
Knows the routine, creeps under the table Thunder, hell has broken loose
Woman, my food, damn it This meat is cold, flung at her Followed by shots - the woman screams The kids scream, the shutters Of Neighbouring houses goes up
It's family, what can we do This is life’ says the man This is our lot' says the woman
Were you there, were you there
You carry the sins of your previous life' it's karma Preserve the sanctity of the family, says the Poosari 'Submit to the will of Allah' says the Mullah Tesus suffered, bear up, my child' says the priest. The woman on the bed asks Who's sanctity, my sanctity What sacrifice, my life is a sacrifice Who's will Allah's or your man? Karma, whose karma, his or mine. Too many religions, too many cultures
Were you there, were you there !
The woman on the bed ponders I, know not, I, know not, In anguish she cries out No love, no compassion.
We are here, we are here
Woman, be not afraid Break, break through the ceiling
To Freedom, to freedom
We are here, we are here

Page 6
Excerpts from
The Asia Pacific (AP) NGO Forum on Beijing+
The Opening Day Commitments were reaffirmed, new feminists welcomed and a human rights protest marked the 30 June 2004 opening of the Asia-Pacific (AP) NGO Forum on Beijing +10. The 4-day event took place in Thailand at Mahidol University in Nakorn Pathom, about 50 kilometres west of the capital Bangkok.
The Forum sought to assess as well as analyse the efforts in the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA) over the past 10 years. In particular, it sought to celebrate the gains made by women actively working for the BPFA's full implementation; to identify remaining gaps that need to be worked on; and to confront emerging issues directly concerning women.
Dr. Patricia Licuanan, chairperson of the AP NGO Forum, also welcomed the participants. She said the forum was a way of "looking back" at the BPFA's achievements as it was also a "leap forward" in terms of continuing the advocacy for the Women of the World. She also said the AsiaPacific region set the standards for other regions in terms of organising Such collaborative efforts around the BPFA, thus the region should also "take the lead in keeping the spirit of Beijing alive."
Simultaneous workshops were held on the first day. These were: "Lobbying and the Beijing +10 Process" by the Asia Pacific Women Watch (APWW), "Gender Mainstreaming: The True Story" by South East Asia Watch (SEAWATCH), and "Ensuring Young People's Meaningful Participation and Incorporating Their Perspectives in the Cairo and Beijing ++ Processes" by the Network of Asia Pacific Youth (NAPY).
2nd Day
The first plenary session for the day was "Celebrating Women's Gains...Confronting Women's Issues" which featured keynote Speaker Patricia Licuanan from the Philippines who gave an overview of Women's gains over the past 10 years in relation to Beijing+10. Dr. Licuanan said it Was at the First Women's World Conference in Mexico in 1975 that violence against women (VAW), discrimination against women, and issues of equality were raised to the level of the UN. In 1995, the UN initiated the Beijing conference which became known as the largest women's world Conference.
What have we gained over the years? According to Dr. Licuanan, almost all
countries in the regio. machinery for Wom BPFA's implementat has been addressed of interventions such to handle Sex Crimes a in the region have pa violence against won old laws to strength women. Data on repr Collected; and there i On HIV/AIDS in the movement itself has years, creating r boundaries, and noW and strategies to addr relations between me is now better unde politics, where the discrimination agains as having intersec ethnicity, age, class Sexual orientation, d refugee status.
Licuanan, however, are growing and pers poverty, globalisat women, declining agriculture shifts to social services and
the heightened c objectification of Won
3rd Day
Issues that affect th social and econom world-wide were disc 02 July 2004, the t PaC ifiC NGO Forur Thailand.
According to Slatter setback in the curren is the erosion of ha reproductive rights W. Of U.S. President Ge Gag Rule. The Gag R government's finar agencies providing "c such as the distr contraceptives li counselling women abortions. Motom observation. She sa anti-women regimes and are now contri erosion of Women's
just in their sexual ar
Amidst the di SC u anti-women regime women's rights, Sha throwing the questio
6

10 June 30 - July 3, 2004
n now have a national hen to facilitate the ion. Gender violence through a wide range as Special police units and nearly all countries ssed laws addressing hen Or have amended en the protection of Oductive health is noW s increasing attention region. The women's transformed Over the nore links across I has long-term plans ress the uneven power en and women. There rstanding of identity e many aspects of twomen is recognised tionality with race, , religion, language, isability, immigrant or
Oointed that there still sistent issues such as ion, low wages for food security as 2xport crops, reduced basic education, and om modification or men in media.
he personal, political, ical lives of Women ussed with vigour on hird day of the Asian on Beijing +10 in
, the foremost major it women's movement rd-fought sexual and ith the implementation orge W. Bush'Global ule withdraws the U.S. hcial support to aid controversial" services ibution of artificial ke condoms and who have undergone aya seconded this id that in Japan, old have come to power buting to the subtle rights in general, not nd reproductive rights.
ssion of feminism, S and the erosion of uh upped the ante by n of criticising back to
the women in the Forum, saying that the feminist movement needs a radical shift. She observed that women needed to "sharpen our critique and turn slogans around to discuss not sisterhood, but solidarity.” Shah observed that perhaps Women in the movement tend to be too focused on their "own little advocacies" that they forget to look at the larger picture of activism, as well as to take up the issues of anti-globalisation, anti-war and similar social justice and newly-emerging movements. She encouraged women to "take on each other's issues and go beyond our multiple identities" in order to converge women into having a common vision and not just engage on the dichotomies of differences.
4th Day
A mini-film festival capped each day of AsiaPacific NGO Forum, drawing a crowd of women interested in seeing their issues highlighted on the audiovisual medium of film/video.
The works were a mixture of productions in film, analogue and digital video formats. Countries represented by the films were Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Philippines, India, Laos, Bangladesh, Iran, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan. The genres were experimental short films, documentaries, and narrative fiction.
One anticipated film was Unlimited Girls written and directed by Paromita Vohra of India. The feature-length video production (94 minutes) used a fun and postmodern approach in discussing the women's movements, depicting how young womenwith or without the usual "isms" (feminism, lesbianism)-figure in on all these different movements today.
Some of the filmmakers were present during the screenings and in a mini-forum, had the chance to introduce their work and entertain questions from the audience. In the film Running with the Media in Japan, filmmakers Asuka Tomaru and Sally McLaren of Ritsumeikan University, Japan discussed the lack of proper female representation in news broadcasts. Sri Lankan director Anoma Rajakaruna was also present to speak about her films entitled Yet Another Five... and Out of the Shadows. Both tackled gender-based abuse.
From the four onsite reports by Libay Linsangan Cantor of Isis International Manila in Mahidol University, Salaya Campus, Thailand from 30 June - O2 July 2004.
?razaúní vo/12 %, 2-juúý2004

Page 7
Men Tour Africa Against Gender Violence
Nelson Banda is a 28 year old journalist from Zambia. 58 yea Moses Mbugua is the head of United Way Kenya, a non-profi provides support for community programs. In November last both men took part in the Men's Travelling Conference - a gro more than 100 men from Zambia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, M. and South Africa who travelled across Eastern and Southern Afri raise awareness and mobilize other men to Support gender eq and end gender-based violence (GBV). The Travelling Conference organized by the Men for Gender Equality Now Network, an init by FEMNET, the African Women's Development and Communic Network. FEMNET's programme on gender-based violence has supported by the UNIFEMTrust Fund in Support of Actions to Elim Violence Against Women.
Aged 20 to 80, the Travelling Conference comprised faith lea policemen, lawyers, sportsmen, artists, students and persons with HIV/AIDS. It was organized as part of the Sixteen Da Activism--a worldwide campaign on ending violence against WC that takes place each year from November 25th to December Billed as an advocacy and outreach event, participants travelled their Countries by bus to meet in Lilongwe, Malawi, stopping a the way to speak to thousands of people on issues of gender-b violence and HIV/AIDS. In each town they stopped at, the men music, dance, drama and lively debate to captivate and involve audiences. Buses were decorated with banners proclaiming "P in Africa Begins At Home: Men Fight GBV", and "Men Worki Stop the Spread of HIV/AIDS". Drums and megaphones help make the messages heard.
Speaking about his involvement, Banda says: "As men, we ne re-assess on how We have been Socialized. Gender Based Viol is barbaric and serves nobody. We are in the Gender Revolutio as men we should take the lead and live by example."
Both Banda and Mbugua are active members of the Men for Ge Equality Now Network, which started in 2001 and has members Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Somaliland, South Africa Zambia. "When the network came up joined immediately to con in my campaign for gender equality," said Mbugua. "I have witne that when men talk to other men on gender equality they tendt more attention than when the same is coming from a woman."
Believing firmly that even in the most patriarchal of soci there are many men who believe that there can b development, peace and justice if gender inequality per and if violence against women continues, FEMNET targets as partners who are critical to reach out to other men to awareness, Sensitivity, and to change attitudes about identity and unequal power relationships between men Women. "Gender bias takes two," says Sara Longwe, fo president of FEMNET. "If we use advocacy to combat it, both sides, men and women, must be involved. When you S up for something, and do it publicly, you can change thin
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Commission on the Status of Women
Each year, for two weeks in March, women gather in New York for the annual session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). In this year's meeting, March 1 12, in addition to its regular discussions on Beijing + 10, the CSW will also focus On two thematic issues:
o The role of men and boys in achieving
gender equality. Women's equal participation in conflict
prevention, management and conflict resolution and in post-conflict peacebuilding.
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) was established as a functional Commission of the Economic and Social Council by Council resolution 11(l) of 21 June 1946 to prepare recommendations and reports to the Council on promoting women's rights in political, economic, civil, social and educational fields. The Commission also makes recommendations to the Council on urgent problems requiring immediate attention in the field of women's rights. The object of the Commission is to promote implementation of the principle that men and women shall have equal rights. The Commission's mandate was expanded in 1987 by the Council in its resolution 1987/22. Following the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, the General Assembly mandated the Commission to integrate into its programme a follow-up process to the Conference, regularly reviewing the critical areas of concern in the Platform for Action and to develop its catalytic role in mainstreaming a genderperspective in United Nations activities.
The Economic and Social Council modified the Commission's terms of reference in 1996, in its resolution 1996/6. In 2000, a comprehensive review and appraisal of progress made in the implementation of the Platform for Action was undertaken by the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly (Beijing +5) entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century".
The Commission, which began with 15 members, now consists of 45 members elected by the Economic and Social Council for a period of four years. Members, who are appointed by Governments, are elected on the following basis: thirteen from African states; eleven from Asian states; four from Eastern European states; nine from Latin American and Caribbean states; and eight from Western European and Other states. The Commission meets annually for a period of ten Working days.
Electronic Newsletter

Page 8
Skills Training Project
Funded by Konrad Adnaeur Stiftung
The project undertaken by WERC involving Women from the poorest of the poor female headed households, in the Eastern Province as reported earlier, is continuing in its final stages. The fundamental objective of the project being alleviation of poverty the project focused on making them economically self
sufficient. Using WERC's warious experiences in the project area as well as in other parts of the country, the target families Were guided on their way to economic and social empowerment. The project was based on two phases. The first phase sought to determing their needs in
wiEW Of the fact that as wictims of War they needed t g uplifted psychologically and to be reclaimed from "the
a pathetic state in which they existed. It was
app) à fast that the Components of the training had to include personality development and confidence building, inspiration and notivation and Women's rights. A programThe of gender sensitisation included these aspects to enable the IT to start life anew. This Was handled by persons who had the expertise in these areas and Were invited to conduct sessions through a dialogic process and the Women actively partipated . This was followed by television progtrammes onwarious socio-economic issues, with a Coordinator to make interwentions to carry the discussions further,
The second phase of training was Om specific skills which would lead to economic self sufficiency. The skills gained Would be used to initiate remunerative enterprises thereby improving their economic status. It was fo||owed by di SC USS i Ons on Cooperati wg
management.
The Women were given the choice of Selecting an income generating enterprise.they picked on Sewing and restaurant management for both of which they needed the expertise.
 
 

A training centre was located in the Batticaloa area, and three sewing machines were supplied. A sewing instructor from the Company was engaged to give lessons on a regular basis, The
WCTICT Elte
OW able to .
p го du C е
iters Of
clothing and household
a rt i C | e s. 45.733; ====== Restaurant Shi'i. training was also carried out by an expert and the Women have learnt to make cakes and pastries. The classes Were interspersed With video programmes for the Women and group discussions were also carried out by our Coordinator,
The Project Coordinator is stationed at the project location and monitors a Toth's activities on the basis of the activity plan. Each month the coordinator evaluates the activities - restaurant and seWing classes. The SUCCeSS and failure are reported along With the evaluation,
T1B TOS1 r=CElt (BWS Cofflas from the WERC team of two staff members led by the Director, who visited the project early in
July, They repor that the training courses end in August and measures hawe been taken to establish a sewing Centre and a Restaurant which will be run by the trainees independently as a Self employ Tient Wenture.
Many initiatives hawe been taken by WERC to lay a sound foundation to the scheme. They have negotiated with the local Bank which Will help the Women to obtain loans to purchase equipment and their basic essentials. WERC has taken care to bring in the community to sustain the project. Their in Wol were it resulted in the
formation of an external corn Tittee
Comprising officials froT a WOThem"S NGO the Bank, the Community Centre and a member of the Eastern University staff, who hawe volunteered to support and Tonitor the progress of the project.
It is With some degree of
El satisfaction that we look back of ية
our efforts which were fraught with challenges.
ஈ:ாரிப்ட்:ழ், 2.w xy

Page 9
Female Detectives
Yan Guoqiong, living in Chengdu, China, at 38, is the executive Director of the first all female detective agency, the Women's Rights Protection investigation Centre.
Fresh from the university.young and naive, she had visions of a happy married life. But her personal experience with her unfaithful husband led her to collect enough evidence to win a divorce from him. She soon realised that many other women faced similar problems. She thought of women's rights and helping them became her life's ambition. Appreciating her assistance and motivated by their own experience many women joined to help in the detective agency she had set up.
The fast developing city of Chengdu with its 10 million people had new rich males indulging in traditional concubinage. Married women in all cities in China suffer the same fate. Wife beaters and unfaithful husbands all came within the ambit of the detective agency. Its modus operandi varied. Sometimes they set out in the
middle of the night dressed up in costumes to hide their identity. They burst into hotel rooms and rented out apartments to take pictures which will produce evidence in the law courts. Having started only a few months ago they have already placed at east one abusive male behind bars for
One year.
Yan declares that through her work she has become stronger, more independent and aware of the values of modern
WΟΠΥΘΙΥ.
First Woman Newspaper Editor in South Africa
Farial Haffajee having started her career as a journalist in 1991 in time rose to be recognised as the Mail and Guardian's senior writer and opinion editor. As a weekly South African newspaper Mail and Guardian carried highly creditable
investigative reports for its antiapartheid news. This year
Celebrates its te
independence, 36 y been promoted as E
newspaper editor in her appointment the 10 years of demo National Congress, is the only party representation of impressive cabinetr of Women MPs indi the ANC in putting roles focussing on which continues to in the country's dev that South Africa champions Women. (Wel Feb 2004)
Women's equa,
The Roman Catholi has named for the theologians as Vatic no Comment Orfan published the list of International TheC among whom Were the University of and Barbara Halle University in Switz among the highest
church. However, Cardinal Georges ( not chosen becau They were chosen
adding that "Wom sensitivity to certair might have a differe make mentiOn tha Coincide with Interr nor a gender issue
Nevertheless Won equal or better t recognised as We point being of valu
RWanda’s Wor
This news Comes by the Inter Parlia Rwanda held its e Assembly and S 2003, and the res they almost reach
፰ንazafing ፃሪዕ/12፵M6 2-7uff/2004
 

and became popular nd analytical political then South Africa th anniversary of lar old Haffajee has ditor, the first female outh Africa. She calls fruit of South Africa's racy". The African ccording to Haffajee, which has a firm women with 40% of inisters. The number 2ates the Success of vomen into important women's leadership, lay an important part slopment. She claims
is a country that
ity in the Vatican
c church it is reported first time two female can Consultants. With fare the Vatican daily new members to the logical Commission sister Sara Butler of Saint Mary, Chicago, insleben of Fribourg
erland, placing them.
ranking women in the it was remarked by 3ottier that "they were se they are Women. for their competence" n can bring their own problems where men nt point of view." They it was not meant to ational Women's Day
en's competence as an men's has been as a feminine view
hen in Parliament
from a press release mentary Union (IPU). ections to its National nate in September ults have shown that dparity between men
and women. Women now comprise 48.8% of the National Assembly of Rwanda with Sweden now in Second place with 45%.
The new Rwanda Constitution has been specially designed to include "many provisions guaranteeing a minimum participation of women in politics." It has reserved a quota of 24 seats for Women but 6 more have been elected to the lowerhouse, and the constitutional quota of 30% in the National Assembly was reached When 6 Women out of 20 Were elected to the Senate.
The IPU in Collaboration with the UNDP had organised a workshop for Women candidates running in the electoral campaign. It is quite clear that the Constitutional allocation of Seats was instrumental in the enthusiasm displayed by Women in the political process, it is reported.
Rwanda now awaits the outcome of this gender sensitive result. Will a culture which values gender equality evolve, Will the success of women change the traditional expectations of women, will the general recognition of the need to have Women in the political process come to stay?
it gives us an uplifting feeling to read this neWS of Rwanda's success
Hawaii's Act 82
Our congratulations to Marilyn Lee, Hawaii State Representative as the main sponsor of Act 82 "The Act makes it a Felony Offence, with a sentence of up to five years in prison, to sellor offer to sell travel services for the purpose of engaging in prostitution and authorizes suspension or revocation of a travel agency registration forengaging in these acts." It was signed into law on May 19, 2004 by the Hawaii State Legislature. The law states that "the low status of women in many parts of the world has led to a burgeoning of the trafficking industry. The purpose of this act is to promote and protect the human rights of Women and girls exploited by Sex tourists."
Hawaii becomes the first State in the United States to criminalise the activities of sex tour operators.

Page 10
Staff Day Out
WERC staff decided to spend their annual day of fun and relaxation at "Ambalama', a restful sylvan retreat, a few miles out of Colombo. So 18" February is a day to be reme libered, Leaving early that bright morning a couple of hours drive away from the city, found us in an open parkland With shady trees, Cool breezes and Winding footpaths leading away to Thore
jungle' areas,
We registered at the wattle and daub office which brought back recollections of a village of the dim past. We Were allocated a little cabana where We dumped our bags and Soon got out in little groups to explore the interesting landscape. As We Wandered around We came across other Cabanas, hidden away among the trees, interestingly named after traditional Sinhalalandmark buildings of a village. There was the familiar Vedagadara and Gurugedara, Wandering along further on We reached the Upenge - the swiTiming Pool and soon several of the staff disappeared into the cool waters Splashing all around.
In the Teantime others enjoyed themselves on the "Kanatha" where swings provided high fun. Proceeding towards the main road to to get to the river below we stopped for a while at the Wakkalaria a minibar - sans any fluids at that hour. A little later we were venturing down the slope to the river but that a di W e n t u r e
WaS Olt S lucky. One false step and one of our
tembers had a rather nasty slip resulting im a painful
brLiSE
As lunch was announced we gathered together at the Attapattu Maduwa’ the half Walled dining hall where we enjoyed a local menu served out of clay pots.
The afternoon was full of ----------- lively music and dancing Monthly Film Show interspersed with a few hilarious indoor games. WERC has organised, in Co Then came cake and tea auditorium. The films selected and soon We were homeward bound at the end The first film show held on July
of apleasant day. Thankyou from Iran, Maji Majedi. Judged WERC | sister and revolves around apa
can move one to tears of joy,
T ــــــــــــــــــا
1D
 

Women's Studies Course Award Ceremony
four-month Women's Studies Certificate Course, which "רך began in September 2003, was successfully concluded in January 2004. Three months was spent on Course Work and one month on analysing the field research. The participants chose the FreeTrade Zone, Drug Addicts, Media Domestic Violence and Wiolence against Women as their research topics. Twelve students completed the Course,
The award ceremony was held on March 26" 2004 in the WERC Auditorium. Ms., Bernadeen Silva Member of the Board of Directors of WERC chaired the proceedings,
Dr. Selwy Thiruchandran, Executive Director of WERC welcomed the guests followed by Dr. Sepali Kottegoda, Director of Women and Media Collective who spoke on behalf of the lecturers, Dr. Carola Stein, Representative of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung which funded this project, distributed the certificates while Dr. Selwy Thiruchandran distributed the three merit awards.
Malkanthi Rajapakse spoke on behalf of the participants while Laksiri MallaWarachchi, a Grama Sewa Nildhari and the Only male student in the group spoke on how much he had benefited from the course. They both thanked WERC for having conducted the Course,
This Women's Studies course was not only valuable to the participants but it would also go down in history as the first Women's Studies Course Conducted in the Sinhala Medium. The success of the course speaks for itself, as there hawe already been several requests for a repeat of the COLurse.
laboration with Wibhawi, a monthly film show at the WERC || or Screening will be relevant to gender issues.
1th, 2004 was "Children of Heaven" by a famous film Director he Best Foreign Language Film 1998, it is about a brother and r of shoes. Full of innocence, suspense, humour and fantasy it
لصــصــصــ
FYazadiyar' sy':Với, 3' - Yuly 22;

Page 11
New Arrivass to the
£JBRARy
Karukku by Bama Dalit writing intranslation. Tamil original translated by Lakshmi Holstroms
In this unusual autobiography a young Woman, Bama looks back on her life from a moment of personal crisis in her childhood village through a series of poignant memories and reflections. Bama's is a bold account of what life is like outside the mainstream of Indian thought and function.
Women of Peace building by Dyan E Mazusana and Susan R. McKay, Montreal International Centre for Human Rights Democratic Development 1999
The need for women's full participation in peace building initiatives is stressed. One aspect of peace building that it be gender-specific and deeply involve women and women's practices, has recently garnered substantial international attention and is the topic of this essay. By keeping gender and women in focus, this essay hopes to add a needed dimensive to ongoing debates seeking to create an inclusion multidimensional approach to peace building that does not exclude or marginalize any group.
Politics of the possible Essays on Gender, History, Narratives, Colonial English. By Kumkum Sangaria. New Delhi. Tulika 2001.
The essays on this volume speak of Indian British, American Latin American narratives with an emphasis on forms, ideologies and class relations. May cohere around several themes like the transnational and regional production of ideologies under the ages of colonialism; Ways of theorizing women's literary labour and agency and consent to patriarchal assignments and ideologies etc.
The essays can be read as mapping a politics of "the possible’.
Women in the Kandyan Kingdom of the seventeenth Century Sri Lanka, by Kapila Pathirana, Vimaladharma, Kandy, Varuni Publications
Prazuální lo/12 %, 2-/utý 2004
 

The historian researching on women in the Kandyan Kingdom has a rich legacy of sources to dip into such as contemporary Sinhalese works and accounts of foreigners who lived in the country as well as those who visited the region at the time. The book captures a certain moment in the history of Sri Lankan women and focuses attention on a
regional society which was by large uncontaminated by Western influences.
Buddhism in India: Challenging Brahmanisim and Caste by Gail Omvedt. London, Sage Publications 2003
This fascinating book constitutes a unique exploration of 2,500 years of the development of Buddhism, Brahmanism and Caste in India providing an entirely new interpretation of the origins and development of the caste system, which boldly challenges the Hindutva version of history. This book will attract a wider readership among all those who are Concerned with the state of contemporary India's polity and Social fabric.
Relevance of communist Manifesto edited by Embrose Pinto and Somen Chakraborty, Delhi Indian Social Institute 2000
The papers in this book provide critical analysis to rethink and research further on Socio-economic Concerns of India in the light of the Manifesto. The book will be a useful document to teachers, activists and researchers.
Freedom of Religion and a "Debate" on Religious Conversion by P.D. Mathew, S.J., New Delhi, Indian Social institute 2002
This booklet is a modest attempt to educate the public regarding their rights related to freedom of religion. It explains the various aspects of "Freedom of Religion" guaranteed by the constitution of decisions on conversion and various offences relating to religion under the Indian Penal Code. It also contains a debate on the religious conversions and a critical study of the cause of recent attacks on Christian minorities in Gujarat.
Women's writing in Exile ed by MaryLynn Broe and Angela ingram London, The University of North Carolina Press 1989
These essays explore the varieties of exile Women writers in Western culture have experienced over the last hundred years. Exile in this work suggests both "in exile" geographically and "exiled" (by other people's Criteria) and this is as much metaphor as it is material circumstances.
11

Page 12
LEBRARY
For your exit ...........
Research Article Book,
Speech Resources Books and Information on
Gender Media Women's Studies
child & Youth 3.
For quick references
Dictionaries/Encyclopedias Research Reports Thesis/Directories
Special collection on Wollen's Writingin SriLanka
Documentation News clipping on violence, suicides human rights FTZ, Women, Trafficking in women, migrant workers
Documented Journal Articles From EPW Feminism and Psychology, Rethinking History, Himal/Gender and Society, Monthly Review etc.
Audio Visuals : documentaries atıld
LL LlLLLlL LLL LLL lLlLLLLLLL LLLLH LLLLLLL EHLHHLLL issues, human rights, ethnicity etc.
We have facilitics for reading & reference work for non members & Enformation through telephone or fax. 8 Computerised database for your
Eserci Inter Library LDan:Facilities Photocopying at cost 8. Computer printoutofreading list Loan
membership Reference referal services,
STAFF NEW
Farewell getto For Chitra Abay and Nilanthi (S Service.
Warm Welcome to Marini de Live
Read
TE W
Peas
to W.
Ca
Agei חם Iryם חם
Women's Education & Research Centre,
58, Dhaгпагапа Road,
Colombo 6, Sri Lanka.
Tel. 2595296 Fax.2596313 E-Mail: womedreasiltnet.lk
t
 

S
together raratna (Consultant), Romela Newins (Project Coordinator) Secretary to the Director) in appreciation of their loyal
aas she takes up duties as Project Coordinator,
ers Comments
Felcome
Ge Write/faxe-mail
ERC address belloW.
WERC ZAdítorím
Timex
Indr, D Workshop, O Awareness Programme, film show Meeting etc.
Auditorium offers you the following facilities -
air conditioned
ic: Address System complete with ophones and Ear Phones
Flgte Projectors
slating Unit
WCRFeche5
gi and Flip Chart Boards
ording facility
1g capacity of 50 available with conference Eles On t LaLLLLL LLLLaS LLLLL LLL LLLLHHLHHLLLaLLLL LLLL LLLLLC LHMLLCCLS
Meals, Tea could be supplied on request.
Prar pariri Tikxif | 2 No. 2 - Willy 2CN04