Normative and national framework to address gender based violence Gender equality and non-discrimination of women is a guiding principle of State machinery and State action in Sri Lanka. The Constitution of Sri Lanka promulgated in Handout 1978 in Article 12(2) sets out the principle of non discrimination on the ground of sex Normative national to address based (and other and specified grounds).framework Article 12(4) further provides gender for affirmative Stateviolence action 1 for the special advantage of women. Gender equality and non-discrimination of women is a guiding principle of State machinery and State action in Sri Lanka. The Constitution of Sri Lanka promulgated in In 1981, in keeping with the commitment made in the Constitution, Sri Lanka ratified the 1978 Nations in Article 12(2) setsonout principle of of All nonForms discrimination on the ground United Convention thethe Elimination of Discrimination Againstof sex (and other specified grounds). Article 12(4) further provides for affirmative State action Women (CEDAW). Sri Lanka is also1 signatory to a number of other international for the special advantage of women. conventions including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which clearly In 1981, in keeping withonthethecommitment made the Constitution, Lanka distinguish discrimination grounds of sex as in a violation of humanSri rights. In ratified 1993 the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Sri Lanka signed the Vienna Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women Women (CEDAW). Lanka is also signatory to a gender number of other international setting out the country’s Sri focused commitment to fight against based violence. conventions including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Covenant on Economic, andDeclaration Cultural on Rights which clearly SriInternational Lanka recognises the definition of GBV setSocial out in the the Elimination ofdistinguish Violence Against Women (DEVAW) as “any act of gender-based violence that results discrimination on the grounds of sex as a violation of human rights. In 1993 in,Sri or Lanka is likely to result physical, sexual oron psychological harmoforViolence suffering Against to women, signed the in, Vienna Declaration the Elimination Women including threats of such focused acts, coercion or arbitrary of liberty, whether setting out the country’s commitment to fightdeprivation against gender based violence. occurring in public or in private life”.2 Sri Lanka recognises the definition of GBV set out in the Declaration on the Elimination It of also accepts Against that violence against women as encompasses is not limited to “physical, Violence Women (DEVAW) “any act ofbut gender-based violence that results sexual psychological violence occurring family, including in, orand is likely to result in, physical, sexual in or the psychological harm orbattering, sufferingsexual to women, abuse of female children in the household, dowry-related violence, marital rape, female including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether 2 genital mutilation and or other traditional practices harmful to women, non-spousal violence occurring in public in private life”. and violence related to exploitation; physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring within the general community, including rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment It also accepts that violence against women encompasses but is not limited to “physical, and intimidation at work, in educational institutions and elsewhere, trafficking in women sexual and psychological violence occurring in the family, including battering, sexual and forced prostitution and physical, sexual and psychological violence perpetrated or abuse of female children in the household, dowry-related violence, marital rape, female condoned by the State, wherever it occurs”.3 genital mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women, non-spousal violence and violence related to exploitation; physical, sexual and committed psychological violence For over two decades the government of Sri Lanka has been actively towards occurring within the general community, including rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment gender equality and the advancement of women including working towards reducing and intimidation at work, in educational institutions and elsewhere, trafficking in women gender based violence. The State commitment to issues particular to women came about and forced prostitution and physical, sexual and psychological violence perpetrated during the United Nations Decade for Women (1975 to 1985) and specifically as a result or by the State, wherever occurs”.3 ofcondoned the International Women’s Year init 1975. For over two decades the government of Sri Lanka has been actively committed towards gender equality and the advancement of women including working towards reducing 1 gender based violence. cameofabout Article 12 -Rights to equality; Article 12(2) The - AllState personscommitment are equal beforeto theissues law and particular are entitled to to the women equal protection the law; Article 12(2) No citizen shall be discriminated against on the grounds of race, religion, language, caste, during the United Nations Decade for Women (1975 to 1985) and specifically assex, a result political opinion, place of birth or any one such grounds; Article 12(4) - Nothing in this article shall prevent special provision of the International Women’s Year in 1975. being made by law, subordinate legislation or executive action for the advancement of women, children or disabled persons. 2 3 Article 1 Article 2 1 80 Article 12 -Rights to equality; Article 12(2) - All persons are equal before the law and are entitled to the equal protection of