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UNHCR launches island wide awareness campaign [December 8, 2004 - 10.15 GMT] The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Colombo yesterday launched the national media campaign on the study on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV). The aim of the campaign, conducted island wide in Sinhala, Tamil and English, is to curb domestic violence and to create more awareness about sexual and gender based violence. This campaign is conducted in third world countries by the UNHCR. To make the local campaign a success high profile film personality Ms. Swarna Mallawarachchi was introduced as the UNHCR spokesperson on SGBV in Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, it is estimated that around 60% of women are subjected to domestic violence. According to the statistics compiled by the Sri Lanka police based on complaints it has registered during 2003, there were 2155 cases of violence against women, of which 690 cases were of battering, assault and injury. President Chandrika Kumaratunga always an advocate of the concept ‘peace begins at home’, in a message said that before planning on how to respond and prevent such violence the root causes and consequences have to be understood. She further said that while gender based violence has a devastating impact mostly on the lives of women and girls it also hinders the development of men and boys. Eliminating gender based violence and gender inequalities helps to strengthen entire communities. President Kumaratunga commended the UNHCR’s efforts, especially for conducting the campaign in all three languages. In September this year an island-wide Campaign to End Violence Against Women (CEVAW) was launched with the aim to reduce social acceptance of violence against women, funded by Oxfam GB. [Full text of the message] President’s
Message Ideally in a civilized society any form of violence should be condemned. Sexual and gender based hostility is a coarse violation of human rights; it denies the victim of his or her dignity and thwarts human development. The overwhelming majority of victims of sexual and gender based violence are women. In Sri Lanka, it is estimated that around 60% of the women are subject to domestic violence. Gender based violence includes more than rape and assault. It is largely rooted in individual attitudes that condone violence within the family, the community and the State. Before we plan on how to respond and prevent this form of violence the root causes and consequences must be understood. While gender based violence has a devastating impact mostly on the lives of women and girls it also hinders the development of men and boys. Eliminating gender based violence and gender inequalities helps to strengthen entire communities. I welcome the efforts of the UNHCR and Centre for Women’s Research in undertaking an in depth study about domestic violence in Sri Lanka. I am confident the data they have arduously gathered can be used to systematically address the concerns of the victims and survivors of such sadism. This will enable a more coordinated approach to addressing gender based violence and will enable UNHCR and other agencies to enable national bodies to better address these concerns. I commend the UNHCR for their efforts and wish them the success they deserve in today’s launch of the national media campaign on SGBV. I am happy it is being done in all three languages. On behalf of the Government and the people of Sri Lanka I thank the UNHCR for their continued assistance on a variety of human rights issues in this country. Chandrika
Bandaranaike Kumaratunga
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