The UNDP Asia Pacific Gender Equality Dispatch #6

26 The UNDP Asia Pacific Gender Equality Dispatch November 2020
Over the years, UNDP has made
significant strides in preventing and
responding to sexual and gender-based
violence in the country, targeting it
at structural, relational and individual
levels; thereby enabling greater access
to justice for victims and survivors.
Strengthening links between the state
and CSOs have proved to be crucial,
especially amidst the COVID-19
pandemic.
In close collaboration with the
Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Child
Development, through technical and
financial support, UNDP with other
partners has ensured the formulation
and operationalization of a multisectoral
National Plan of Action to
address SGBV – the first of its kind in
the South Asian region. The National
Plan of Action promotes a coordinated
approach among all stakeholders, in
addressing SGBV and builds on the
government’s response to ending
violence against women and girls in
the country.
UNDP also supports complementary
initiatives such as the strengthening
of the SGBV Referral mechanism,
shelter guidelines, legal assistance and
psychosocial support through CSOs; as
well as conducting paralegal trainings,
strengthening legal clinics and antiharassment
guidelines to build dignity
at the workplace.
“Because we explained and shared the
SGBV Referrazl model developed by
UNDP and the Ministry of Women and
Child Development in the district level
network meetings in the last few years,
during the COVID-19 crisis different
stakeholders knew how to direct victims
to us in the correct manner. We
really saw the value of the system,”
says Chandrathilaka Liyanaarachchi,
Program Manager from the Women’s
Development Centre in Kandy.
Adding to this, Ms Kumari Herath,
Centre Manager, Women In Need in
Anuradhapura stated, “the District SGBV
Referral system has enabled us to build
trust, strengthen coordination and
collaboration between state and nonstate
actors at the district level when
responding to SGBV, especially during
the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Significant initiatives have also been
taken by working with the Gender and
Women’s Select Committee in the
Parliament of Sri Lanka by drafting 3
Bills to address discrimination against
women and girls. UNDP has been
actively working with the apex bodies
of the government, supporting these
groundbreaking initiatives that have led
to transformative changes including the
appointment of the first woman Deputy
Inspector General of Police- a first in its
history.
Photo: UNDP Sri Lanka