| Women’s
groups appeal for an inclusive framework for disaster response
A collective
of women’s rights groups who have conducted a series of fact-finding
missions in the tsunami-affected areas over the past week wishes
to bring to public attention serious issues concerning the safety
and wellbeing of women which have not been addressed so far in relief
efforts.
We appreciate
the many public initiatives to collect and deliver relief and assist
those affected by the tsunami in whatever ways are possible. However,
our observations indicate that these efforts need to be refocused
to ensure that those who have suffered as a consequence of the tsunami
are not subjected to further violence and abuse by unscrupulous
persons.
The heightened
vulnerability of people in these areas due to the destruction of
communication lines and the large-scale mass displacement and death
of people has created situations in which women and girls become
more likely to encounter violence.
- In particular,
we have received reports of incidents of rape, gang rape, molestation,
and physical abuse of women and girls in the course of unsupervised
rescue operations and while resident in temporary shelters, particularly
in the south. Apart from these incidents (the number of which
is not known), these reports have also indicated that women’s
mobility continues to be restricted due to the fear of sexual
violence. No proper monitoring body has been set up to receive
complaints, to take action against perpetrators, or to ensure
the safety of women in these areas.
- We urge
government authorities, and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, in
particular, to take note of these violations, and to take immediate
measures to investigate such incidents. We also urge collaboration
between state institutions and agencies such as UNHCR, OXFAM and
other agencies working on gender-based violence in this matter.
Provision of adequate security and establishing complaints mechanisms
should be an urgent priority in the relief process.
- We are also
concerned that the information flowing from the Tsunami-hit areas
does not provide detailed accounts of the numbers of specific
vulnerable communities such as pregnant women, lactating mothers,
persons with physical and mental disabilities, persons with special
medical needs and requiring daily and consistent medication. The
collection of such data is absolutely critical for identifying
priority needs in the days to come. In addition, accurate record
of all those hospitalised after the tsunami should be given wide
publicity.
- The lack
of a system that could identify children separated from their
families has also hampered efforts to locate families missing
children or to resettle children with relatives in the locations
where they were found. We strongly urge the National Child Protection
Authority to work in coordination with the Department of Probation
and Childcare Services to set up a mechanism to address this problem.
- As an initial
step, measures should be taken to call on all those who know whereabouts
of unaccompanied children to register them at the nearest Police
Station or at the desk of the Department of Child Care and Probation
Services at the Divisional Secretariat, and to give adequate publicity
through the print and electronic media as to the present whereabouts
of children.
- The role
that the media can play in helping people to find missing persons
and children should be systematised so that there is no duplication
of efforts but rather a fruitful collaboration.
- The inadequate
structures of coordination within the government bureaucracy at
the level of Kachcheris and Divisional Secretariats is also a
matter of grave concern. In view of the fact that government officers
in local administration who were resident in the areas have also
suffered personal loss during this time, it is imperative that
the government seconds senior and middle-level government officials
to take over administrative functions in the tsunami affected
areas in order to ensure that these structures are able to function
efficiently for relief efforts.
- Considering
the enormous destruction to life and property, we urge the government
to postpone the Advanced Level Examination and all university
examinations.
Women’s groups
throughout the island are committed to extend their fullest support
to both state and non-state structures that will work for the provision
of immediate relief as well as for medium and long-term reconstruction
and rehabilitation of all those people of Sri Lanka who have been
affected by the tsunami in the framework of sustainable development
and a lasting and just peace.
Press Release issued on 1 January 2005 by:
- Mothers and
Daughters of Lanka
- Sri Lanka
Women’s NGO Forum
- Women’s Alliance
for Peace
- Women’s Alliance
for Peace and Democracy
- Action Network
for Migrant Workers
For further
information contact Sepali Kottegoda
or Kumi Samuel
Note: Since
the above press release was issued, a fund has also been set-up
by the Coalition for Assisting Tsunami Affected Women in Sri Lanka.
Click here for details.
This
page was last updated on January 30, 2005
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