Introduction-

International Women’s Day 2007 30th anniversary

Yesterday, March 8 Sri Lanka joined the rest of the world to celebrate the International Women’s Day recognized by the UN in 1977.

Nationally and Internationally Women’s Day is celebrated to pay tribute to women world over for the tremendous and unique service they have rendered to make the world a place where human security is protected.

Even though, the UN recognized IWD only in 1977, celebrations commenced in 1908 in the USA. Later IWD celebrations were adopted by the then Socialist world in a major manner.

This year the UN has decided “Ending impunity of violence against women” as the global theme. Canada is celebrating four days from 5th to 8th with the theme of “Evade gender based violence”.

Many countries in the world have declared March 8 as a public holiday. In Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Empowerment organised a grand celebration at BMICH with President Mahinda Rajapaksa gracing the occasion as the Chief Guest.

His symbolic presence should encourage all Sri Lankan men to pay respect to the women in their families and colleagues for the contributions they have made silently and some times undergoing great hardship to make their lives happy. IWD’s main message is recognizing women’s contribution to human life.

The Legal Aid Commission where 90% of staff is women, celebrated IWD at the Superior Court premises yesterday. Women Legal Aid lawyers and supportive staff are served with milk rice and sweets and encouraged to achieve excellence in their service to the poor.

As a mark of respect to IWD they were given half holiday. Celebrations were also held at Kolonnawa Balika Maha Vidyalya to extend the message to the younger generation.

These steps are very small but if every Institution, private and public sector make similar endeavours the world would be a better place for women.

S.S. Wijeratne

Views of the public regarding International Women’s Day

It should not be limited to one day, everyday is a Women’s Day.
Thilini,
Nikaweratiya.

As women, we have to fight for our rights and privileges and to live equally with men.
Dilhani,
Galle.

As women we have to be respected and treated kindly. This day is celebrated to give recognition to women’s contribution to human life.
S. Srimani,
Ratmalana.

Women are trouble makers. We cannot understand them.
D. Fernando,
Mt. Lavinia.

Women are also part of domestic violence. We have to fight against them.
G. Dominic,
Dehiwela.

Women are smarter than men in the workplace.
F. Rodrigo,
Colombo 4.

Women are clever in education until they are married. After marriage they become foolish.
T. Ismail,
Battaramulla.

Women are part of our life. We cannot live without them. Without women the world is empty.
G. Keerthi,
Minuwangoda.

Women cannot be trusted. We have to be tactful.
G. Weeramuni,
Matara.

If every woman is a good mother, then this world becomes a beautiful place to live.
D. Thangaraj,
Mutwal.

We have to protect our women. They are so precious and valuable.
W.M. Samararatne,
Horowpatana, Police Station.

I have to choose between motherhood and safeguarding my career.
T. Kamalika,
Veyangoda.

Every workplace should have Day Care Centers. Otherwise they have to face a lot of problems looking after children.
W. Fernando,
Moratuwa.

Women face lot of harassment in private buses. It is best to have “Ladies Only” bus service.
Jayanthi,
Kaduwela.

Women are trouble makers for themselves. They should think about their duties before talking about their rights.
M. Aslam,
Colombo 11.

Women change their colour from time to time.
W. Roberts,
Nawala.

Women shoulder all the burdens in the house.
Shiroma Hemanthi,
Orugodawatte.

Better to be single than getting married to a troublesome woman.
Ruwan,
Nugegoda.

God made his biggest mistake by creating women.
Lanchana,
Wennappuwa.

Women are so special and kind.
Gamini,
Veyangoda.

The world is beautiful because of women.
Neranjala,
Nittambuwa.

The major foreign exchange earners are women. But they are the most badly treated.
Vincent Karunaratne,
Pitakotte.

The disabled women are totally ignored by society. They are raped and tortured. So they should be protected.
Swarna Daham Padanama,
Dunkannawa

Questions and Answers

Female IDPs subjected to sexual harassment in welfare centres

Question: Due to the conflict situation in the North, our family got displaced. In our family there are four members - namely my father, mother, brother and myself. We are living in a welfare centre. I am now 16 years of age. Two years ago a businessman approached me and invited me to his house.

He stated that he could look after me and pay me. Due to poverty I agreed to go and stay with him. While I was staying at his place, he started a sexual relationship with me. Now I feel that this person is continuing to harass me sexually and it has become a serious problem. Please advice me.

Answer:Even though you are an Internally Displaced Person (IDP) you have all the rights as a citizen of Sri Lanka.

Since you are under 16 years of age at the time you were subjected to sexual harassment by the person whom you are living with and if he has had sexual intercourse, his conduct amounts to rape in terms of Section 364 of the Penal Code as mentioned in Act No. 22 of 1995. So you have to make a complaint to the police. However, for the authority to initiate an investigation, it is necessary to make a complaint to the police.

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Husband continues harassing in spite of Interim Order against him

Question:I am a 3-year-old married woman with two children. I have filed a maintenance case against my husband. Since I was subjected to domestic violence, I was successful in obtaining an interim order from the Magistrate’s Court prohibiting my husband from harassing me.

However, in spite of obtaining the aforementioned order, he still continues to harass me. Could you please advice me as to what I should do under these circumstances?

M. Indrani, Kiribathgoda

Answer:You must first ascertain whether the interim order has been served on your husband. If the Interim Order has been served on your husband and your husband has failed to comply with such order, he is guilty of having committed an offence.

If found guilty, he is liable to pay a fine of Rs. 10,000 or to imprisonment of either description for a term not exceeding one year or to both such fine and imprisonment.

In a matter of this nature, please take steps to record a complaint at the local police station each time he harasses you. Also obtain certified copies of such complaint/complaints from the police.

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Law circles in schools

Question: As girls we should know the law relating to our day to day life. Is there any chance for us to learn such laws?

Girls from Kurunegala

Answer: Yes. The Ministry of Education has very recently introduced Civics and Governance as an optional subject in grades 10 and 11 from 2007.

Meanwhile, the School Programme Desk at the Legal Aid Commission has already started law circles in schools to function as focal points to promote legal awareness among the schoolchildren.

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Hosewife cheated by trader

Question: As a house wife I attend to all my household work including marketing as well. I purchase my dry rations on a monthly basis as I feel it is economical and convenient. One day I was cheated by a trader. He overcharged me for a certain item which I purchased. This particular trader is in the habit of doing this. How can I punish this trader?

Mrs. Daisy Fernando, Malabe.

Answer: The Consumer Affairs Authority Act No. 9 of 2003 was enacted mainly for the following purposes:

(a) to protect consumers against the marketing of goods or the provision of services which are hazardous to life and property of consumers;

(b)to protect consumers against unfair trade practices and guarantee that consumers interest shall be given due consideration;

(c) to ensure that wherever possible consumers have adequate access to goods and services at competitive prices; and

(d) to seek redress against unfair trade practices, restrictive trade practices or any other forms of exploitation of consumers by traders.

Under this Act any person who sells or offers to sell any goods above the price marked on the goods in accordance with a direction issued under Section 10, shall be guilty of an offence. Therefore, you could make a complaint to the Consumer Affairs Authority. The address is given below:

The Consumers Affairs Authority,
1st and 2nd floor,
CWE Secretariat Buildings,
No. 27, Vauxhall Street,
Colombo 2.
Tel. Nos. 2393495, 2393577, 2445897

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Wife cheated by job agency

Question: My wife went to Saudi Arabia for foreign employment in 2002. She went abroad through a registered agent under the foreign employment bureau. She signed a service agreement. She did not get the agreed job and she was not paid. Now she has come back to Sri Lanka. Please advice me.

G. S. Mohamed, Mawanella.

Answer: In order to advice you in the matter, we must first see the service agreement signed by your wife. Therefore, please call over at the Legal Aid Commission, Head Office with a copy of the service agreement.

The Legal Aid Commission has set up a Migrant Workers Desk at its Head Office premises at No. 129, High Court Complex, Colombo 12 specially to assist migrant workers. The contact person is Lilanthi Kumari, Attorney-at-Law.

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What are the documents to be submitted to claim blood money?

Question: My husband was sent to Doha, Qatar to work as a driver. While working he met with an accident and died.

The Company where my husband worked has requested necessary papers to pay the blood money to the legal heirs.

What documents should I submit to claim the blood money?

P. Marie, Wattala

Answer:You have to file the necessary papers in the District Court through a lawyer and obtain an order from the District Court declaring that you and you children are the legal heirs.