Unequal power structures and gender based violence: The concept of ‘gender’ in itself sets out to clarify the ways in which patriarchal socialisation processes plays a critical function in creating socially ‘acceptable’ norms of behaviour and rights for women and for men. These socialisation processes in effect give more power to men over women and demarcate lines of conduct where women and men have differential and often unequal access to and control over resources, whether it is in terms of food, healthcare, skills training, credit, property, income or, in the arena of decision-making. Lack of access to such resources can also result in those with less ‘power’ being subjected to violence and intimidation, which could take the form of acts of verbal, physical and sexual violations, whether in the privacy of their own homes or in the public sphere. It is acknowledged that the issue of who or which group in society has more power than others and who can exert acts of gender based violence is not restricted to economic power but is very much rooted in notions of social power and hierarchies in access to exercising such power. The concept of gender based violence necessarily includes both the aspects of violence which arises out of asymmetrical power relations resulting from the socialisation processes, as well as gender based discrimination arising from structural violence against women, as can be seen, for example through the impact of violence against women as a result of armed conflict. Addressing gender based violence in Sri Lanka necessarily involves addressing unequal power structures between men and women. Whether this (the issue of addressing power structures) is clearly articulated or not, every initiative, campaign or discussion that addresses gender based violence deals with these power structures that exists in diverse forms within different ethnic groups, within and between class barriers, within religious faiths, in public institutions and offices and within the private sphere. Sri Lanka recognizes gender based violence as a crucial issue that needs focused and strategic responses and diverse sectors, State, nongovernmental, professional, service sectors and academia provide multi faceted initiatives aimed at addressing and reducing gender based violence. However the issue remains grave. The need for extensive strategic and long term programming to address gender based violence is urgent and the space is open for such programming at all levels of society from policy level to community level. It is important to analyse the gaps and shortcomings that have prevented the yielding of highly successful results from the programming in the past decades. While obstacles commonly identified (and present around the world) as ‘cultural’ barriers, negative attitudes, stereotyping and ingrained power inequalities continue to hinder programming, lack of strong, committed and long term State attention to the issue has been a constant and strong barrier to achieving results. A 2005 study on Property Ownership and Inheritance Rights of Women for Social Protection 1 concludes that property ownership by women did not obviously affect violence. In the study, from the women who faced violence at home, women who owned property were similar in83