Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Saroja Savithri Paulraj presented the progress made since the submission of Sri Lanka’s 9th periodic report to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in Geneva on 13th February 2025. Outlining notable progress achieved, notable achievements in decision making roles including in Parliament, Minister Paulraj underlined the government’s commitment to upholding the rights of women and girls and in advancing gender equality across all sectors, while seeking to address remaining challenges across economic, social and cultural spheres. Minister Paulraj highlighted the election of 22 female Parliamentarians from diverse social backgrounds including from the working class, marginalized communities and two women parliamentarians from the Malayaga community for the first time in Sri Lanka’s parliamentary history, as well as the appointment of the third female Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, who obtained the highest number of preferential votes from the Colombo district.
The Minister further highlighted the achievements made and further efforts being taken to broaden gender equity and equality in all sectors and ensure women’s participation in decision making at all levels and across a broad spectrum of sectors.
While underlining the crucial role of women in driving the economy and in generating income across key sectors such as garments, plantations, and as migrant workers, the delegation highlighted the measures taken by the government to mitigate existing challenges and enhance women’s contribution to the economy in both formal and informal sector, including by providing awareness, capacity development, financial assistance, social welfare facilities etc.
The delegation further indicated actions already taken and further commitments in revitalizing the rural economy and eradicating poverty, and addressing the disproportionate impact on women due to economic challenges.
The review provided an opportunity to brief the Committee on some of the key policy and legislative reforms in the country to strengthen the implementation of the Convention in Sri Lanka including the establishment of a National Women’s Commission under the Women Empowerment Act No 37 of 2024, and Sri Lanka’s first National Action Plan for Women, Peace and Security for 2023 to 2027. The launch of Multi-sectoral National Action Plan (NAP) to address Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) for the period 2024-2028 and actions taken to address the increasingly challenging issue of online gender-based violence were highlighted.
Sri Lanka ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women in 1981, the same year the Convention came into force. The CEDAW Committee comprises 23 independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention. The Committee appreciated constructive and respectful manner in which the dialogue was conducted.
The all-female Sri Lanka delegation included senior officials from the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Attorney General’s Department, Sri Lanka Police, and the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism
Colombo
17 February 2025
