Positive steps to halt violence against women

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

Sri Lanka has taken many positive steps to create an awareness in combating harassment against women, Child Development and Women’s Affairs Minister Tissa Karaliyadda said.

The minister was addressing the 71st Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development held in Thailand from October 23 to 25. The minister is the chairman of the Standing Committee on Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls of The Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on

Population and Development(AFPPD). “This event will make a critical contribution towards creating an awareness on gender violence and the disturbing practice of child abuse. We are making similar efforts in our country to reduce the impact of violence against women and children”, the minister said. It will add to the strong and effective advocacy of the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development, one of whose aims is to address, in an effective policy based way, the issue of violence against women and girls. A fundamental fact of women’s empowerment is to ensure that all women and girls can live their lives in safety, free from all forms of violence, Karaliyadda added.

The AFPPD is a coordinating body of National Committees of Parliamentarians on Population and Development and Parliamentary Committees dealing with population and development issues working to generate support and perpetuate cooperation among Asian parliamentarians in the area of population and development and related fields. The Asian Forum is committed to informing, educating and motivating parliamentarians on the linkages between increasing population and issues such as reproductive health, family planning, food security, water resources, sustainable development, environment, ageing, urbanisation, migration, HIV/AIDS and gender equality. AFPPD gives emphasis for the most part to national level activities including review of legislation, monitoring programme implementation and advocacy at the constituency level on population and development related issues.