Message of UNDP Resident Representative on International Women's Day

Progressing from Representation to Transformative Gender Empowerment

March 8, 2025

Honourable Minister of Justice, Minister of Women and Child Affairs and Members of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus,

Honourable Judges,

Excellencies the High Commissioners and the Ambassadors,

Representatives from the Government, Police, Academic Institutions and Justice Sector Institutions,

Colleagues from the Canadian High Commission, Development Partners, UN Agencies.

Representatives of the civil society organizations and the private sector.

Ladies and gentlemen,

A very good evening to you all.

I am honoured to be in the presence of such an esteemed audience this evening to commemorate the International Women’s Day 2025.

At the outset, let me acknowledge the generous financial support from the Government of Canada to mark this event through a project titled ‘Ensuring Justice for Victim-Survivors of Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) in Sri Lanka’, which is jointly implemented by UNDP with the Government of Sri Lanka and UNFPA.

I am also delighted to be surrounded by women judges led by the Honorable Justice Kumudini Wickremasinghe. As some of you may be aware, today’s programme is organized following the inaugural meeting of the Sri Lanka Association of Women Judges. UNDP has contributed to the formation of this noble Association, which aspires to become an affiliate of the International Association of Women Judges in the very near future.

When I heard about the objectives of the Association, I was truly inspired and thought a partnership with them would amplify our collective efforts towards improving access to justice amongst the most vulnerable. First, they seek to enact systemic reforms within the judiciary to address inherent biases, obstacles, or systemic challenges that hinder the professional growth of women judges. Furthermore, they will work towards influencing legislative changes that ensure gender-responsive laws and policies within the legal framework, focusing on issues that are particularly relevant to women's rights and the judiciary.

In November last year, during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, UNDP with the Sri Lanka Judges’ Institute, organized a Regional Knowledge Exchange, to bring together Justices from the South Asian countries - India, Nepal, Maldives, and Pakistan. The participants shared innovative judicial interventions that have been implemented in their respective jurisdictions to improve access to justice for victim-survivors of SGBV.

Some of these recommendations include re-evaluating existing penalties for sexual offenses to ensure they are commensurate with the severity of the crimes; implementing guidelines to minimize a victim-survivor's exposure to perpetrators during identification parades and assigning specific days for SGBV case hearing.

They also shared the importance of continuously building the capacity of judges on specific topics such as the use of audio-visual methods for recording of evidence, gender-sensitive judgement writing, and addressing gendered myths and stereotypes in adjudication.

UNDP is very keen to work with the Sri Lanka Association of Women Judges to take forward some of the catalytic recommendations from this conference, in partnership with the Judicial Services Commission and the Sri Lanka Judges Institute.

Today’s programme will be yet another milestone in our continuous journey towards ensuring access to justice for victim-survivors of gender-based violence.

Our partnership cannot be timelier. Globally, our shared norms and values that have been built over the years are being tested with a reversal and a regression of significant achievements relating to gender equality, diversity and inclusion. While the space to discuss and advocate for GEDI in some parts of the world is shrinking, we are blessed in Sri Lanka where these values and aspirations are at the heart of the national agenda.

Although we are on the road to recovery from the economic crisis, the impact it has had on the most vulnerable segments of the society continues to linger. According to the 2024 Multidimensional Vulnerability Index, 55.8% of Sri Lankans face multi-dimensionally vulnerabilities. It showed women and girls have been disproportionately impacted, particularly while accessing justice.

Known as the shadow pandemic, global trends show that all types of violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, intensified during and after the Pandemic.

Here in Sri Lanka, the situation was further aggravated by the country’ economic crisis in Sri Lanka, which severely impacted the safety and wellbeing of women and girls. The MVI also revealed that many households suffered from multiple debts to bring food to the table and keep children in schools, and it was often women who resorted to precarious borrowing practices. Unable to pay back, women were exposed to violence at home. Financial stresses experienced by families had direct consequences for women’s safety and wellbeing at home.

The police recorded 82 deaths of women in 2021, 95 in 2022, 105 in 2023 and 71 deaths up to August 2024, showing steady increase over the years.

Further, police records from 2022 indicate over 137,677 reports of domestic violence by women, a significant increase from the pre-pandemic years. However, rates of domestic violence have been on the decline since then, with 136,221 cases in 2023 and roughly 115,000 complaints in 2024.

We should not be quick to judge that the decline in complaints means that the incidents have been reduced. We are aware of many stories how financially stressed women were unable to pay the transportation or even to make a phone call to report a case. We must also be aware of the persistent stigma and fear which force victim-survivors of SGBV into a culture of silence.

A lack of protection against threats, retaliation and intimidation, combined with the lengthy judicial process, which is often riddled with complexities and lacks clarity, also prevents women from pursuing a focal justice process. Women are often frustrated, disappointed, and at times, lose trust in the institutions. Findings from the multi-country study on ‘Men and Violence’ confirms this. The study revealed that 10,000 men were interviewed in Asia and the Pacific, including in Sri Lanka. Nearly a quarter of men interviewed reported perpetrating rape against a woman or girl, but had suffered no legal consequences, while only 3.3% had been arrested, 2.2% had been penalized and only 34.2% felt worried or guilty.

Denied or delayed justice results in increased victimization. We must collectively strengthen the justice dispensation efforts in Sri Lanka through coordinated approaches so that we can deliver gender-responsive, safe, timely and accountable justice processes for the victim survivors.

The concluding observations of the ninth periodic report of Sri Lanka by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), in February 2025 specifically called for strengthening the capacity of law enforcement and judicial authorities to effectively investigate and prosecute cases of gender-based violence against women. It further recommends to reduce case backlogs and ensure timely justice for survivors, particularly children affected by sexual violence; to encourage reporting of domestic violence against women and girls by conducting media campaigns to raise awareness about the criminal nature of gender-based violence against women; and to destigmatize victims, and protect women from retaliation when reporting incidents of gender-based violence.

We also need to be mindful of the dearth of comprehensive quantitative and qualitative studies on SGBV in the country, particularly in relation to the responses of the justice sector to crimes of this nature.

UNDP is currently working the Prof. Edirisinghe and the team from the University of Kelaniya on a study to understand "Progressions and Patterns of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Sri Lanka”. This is a nationwide mixed-methods study, which will encompass all 25 districts of the country, covering a ten-year period from 2013 to 2023. This study, to be completed in 2026, will certainly fill the existing data gap to help promote evidence-based responses.

By acknowledging that the formal justice systems represent only one avenue for seeking justice, we must champion a whole-of-society approach that looks at quality and efficacy of state and non-state (both customary and informal) justice service providers. Such holistic efforts will invariably lead to equitable and gender-responsive justice to victim-survivors of SGBV.

I am now speaking directly to all the Honourable Justices, as well as all legislators and members of parliament in the room. You have the power to introduce wider legal and policy level changes. You have the power to bring about everyday changes in your courtroom. We look forward to our continued partnership to implement innovative and impactful solutions to bring justice closer to those who are in need.

Witnessing your commitment through your presence here today, I am optimistic about the future of the justice system in Sri Lanka and the positive impact it will continue to have on women, girls and the society as a whole. As I mentioned before, justice delayed, and justice denied is detrimental – especially for victim-survivors of sexual gender-based violence – and therefore, the time is now to act.

Thank you once again to all of you for your presence this evening. It is wonderful to see champions and leaders from diverse institutions – great to see Lieutenant Renuka, who has led impressive increase in protection orders, for example. I would also like to thank Justice Kumudini and her team for the work though the Sri Lanka Women Judges Association; Prof. Anurhddhi and team; the Honourable Saroja Paulraj - Minister of Women and Child Affairs, and the Women Parliamentarians Caucus; Ms. Ayesha Jinasena - Secretary - Ministry of Justice and all justice sector stakeholders including Ms. Shiranthi and the Women Lawyers Association; and of course, the Government of Canada for the generous funding support.

I remain grateful for your continued collaboration and allyship. I wish you all an evening full of learning and fellowship.

***Ends***