Violence against women and girls is one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world. It knows no social, economic or national boundaries. Worldwide, an estimated one in three women will experience physical or sexual abuse in her lifetime (UNFPA)
Violence has also been acute during conflict and in times of disaster. In Sri Lanka. More than one million people were made homeless by the 30-year ethnic conflict and the 2004 Asian Tsunami disaster. A significant consequence of this was the increasing violence that resulted in an unsafe, insecure environment for the people – especially the women. Gender Based Violence (GBV) encompasses acts that inflict physical, sexual harm or suffering, threats of such action and and coercion and can occur in public or private. Rape, trafficking, domestic violence, forced marriages, sexual harassment are some examples of GBV. It includes domestic and family violence transcends across all ethnic communities.
Many women had lost their husbands in the tsunami, and a special area was necessary for the women to observe Iddah (a period of mourning for widows and divorcees) and these shelters provided such a space. Girls did not need to venture out unprotected to collect food, clothing, water and other essentials. These centres were subsequently developed into information and counselling centres.
These centres were also spaces where some of the mobile clinics/ awareness training conducted by MWRAF were undertaken with the support of lawyers, Quazi judges, marriage registrars, medical doctors, community and religious leaders on wide-ranging topics, including laws relating to marriages and divorce, domestic violence and HIV. Awareness was also created on issues such as subfertility, maternal health, a rights-based approach to family planning, comprehensive sexuality education, unsafe abortions, and information on referral clinics.
Different strategies, including sharing data collected on Domestic Violence (DV), video presentation and personal testimonies by DV survivors, were utilized to sensitize the people- mainly men. They were made to realize the gravity of DV and understand the urgency to take necessary action to eradicate violence. These centres also took the initiative to conduct activities such as signature campaigns to eliminate DV. Due to funding constraints 2 of the Centres had to be shut down and only the Centre in Maradmunai continues to function.


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