Campaigns

COUNTRY LEVEL CAMPAIGNS

Vote for Women for Democracy

If, as Abraham Lincoln once said, democracy is “government of the people, by the people, for the people” women should be equal partners in making democracy. The promise of de facto democracy for women cannot be fulfilled by law and philosophy alone. It requires transforming the commitment to equality into concrete political realities which will secure women’s capacity to participate as coequal actors in the public and political sphere. This capacity is the meaning of democratic citizenship for women and it is an essential precondition for viable democratic citizenship for men and women alike.
To this effect, WPA-SL launched a campaign calling on political parties to recognize the need to introduce special measures aimed at increasing women’s representation in political institutions and government. This campaign was in response to contemporary challenges encountered by women activists in relation to gaining equal rights to representation at all levels. Posters, leaflets, and brochures were produced and advocacy campaigns were conducted in this regard.
In 2010, WPA-SL has produced campaign posters, leaflets, hand bills, banners and streamers as campaign materials. Demand for 50 per cent Quota in Nomination and one-third reservations.

English Translation of this poster. “ Amendment to Local Government Election Law” Our demands 50% women nomination 1/3 seats eservation. Affirm democracy

This poster was launched on 4^th September 2010 at the National Convention of the Platform for Freedom and distributed to all partners to put up island wide.

2010 -Launching of Women’s Manifesto on International Women’s Day

In 2010, on International Women’s Day, a national campaign was launched in collaboration with partners and other networks on the theme “protect media freedom, enhance democracy and increase women’s participation in politics.” The main event was held in Colombo at J.R Jayawardena Center. This event was attended by an array of representatives from civil society, trade unions, political parties, wives of disappeared, women’s organizations, religious leaders and NGO activists. At this event, the women’s manifesto, which highlights pressing the demand for equal rights for women in the social, economic and political spheres, was launched.

This women’s manifesto was specially designed for female candidates contesting the forthcoming local government elections.

This manifesto emphasizes that democracy means full and equal political citizenship for all. The campaign called for commitment from all political leaders at the highest levels to ensure women’s full and equal participation in democratic processes. The manifesto was handed over to representatives of political parties who were present at the event.

The programme concluded with a public event. A procession led by women marched towards the Lipton circle, Colombo to make the demands more visible. Women from all walks of life joined in the streets to raise their voices for democracy and for equal rights in politics and citizenship. As a result, women political activists gained media space during the election period.

2011, campaign on Protecting Women’s Human Rights, Demanding Equal Rights, and 30 percent Political Representation”

In 2011, WPA-SL celebrated the International Women’s Day. Together with the oldest women’s network of Mothers and Daughters of Lanka, the Law and Society Trust and the National Peace Council participated in the campaign. The theme of the National Campaign of 2011 was “Protect Women’s Human Rights, Demand Equal Rights, and 30 percent Political Representation.” Three hundred participants, including candidates of all political parties contesting Local Government Institutions, joined this campaign. The common poster produced by WPA-SL for the local government election campaign was launched and distributed to candidates and CBOs on this day.

REGIONAL LEVEL CAMPAIGNS

8 March 2012 Women’s Day Campaign

In 2011 there were 448 participants for the campaign and in 2012 60 participated, to strengthen partnership of the Action and expand the impact and influence. It also gave visibility to the theme to give leadership in politics. This Action promotes the increase of women’s participation in the political life of the country. It also helped create media sensitivity and public opinion to support the Action. Participants included women workers, trade union workers, leaders and CSOs working on labour rights issues, potential women politicians and women politicians. It was also a gender sensitizing process for trade-union leaderships including men.

Campaign demanding the release of Rizana Nafeek

The WPA-SL leadership participated in the campaign demanding the release of Rizana Nafeek a Sri Lankan housemaid convicted in Saudi Arabia for a murder of four-month-old child under her care. Her parents alleged that in order to get work in Saudi Arabia, the date of birth was altered on Nafeek’s passport, and in reality she was under 18 when the offence took place; this made her execution contrary to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Nafeek was imprisoned and sentenced to death on 16 June 2007. The President of Sri Lanka twice personally requested a pardon for Nafeek from the King of Saudi Arabia. Human rights activists held many demonstrations calling for her release.