New legislation to protect women from discrimination based on sexual orientation

7 May 2024 09:29 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 3 Bookmark

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By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

Sri Lanka is moving towards protecting women from discrimination based on sexual orientation.

This was confirmed by the Women’s Empowerment Bill which was presented to Parliament. One of the objectives of the legislation which has been already gazetted is to protect women from all forms of discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation.

The legislation further seeks to take steps to prevent discrimination, marginalization, sexual harassment and violence against women.

It also seeks to promote realization of, and ensure equality and justice of women and to take measures to ensure as far as possible women’s participation in all measures and mechanisms connected with administration of justice and equal representation of women in decision making structures and positions at every level within the government.

The legislation provides provision to appoint a women’s empowerment commission which will comprise seven members of which five will be women. The commission members will be appointed by the President following the recommendation of the Constitutional Council and the Women’s Caucus of Parliament. The commission will have the power to inquire and investigate I to infringement of women’s rights and receive complaints.

The commission will have the power to intervene in any proceedings relating to infringements pending before any court with the permission of such a court.

Comments - 3

The Kandy Thera want the discrimination to continue Wednesday, 08 May 2024 07:13 AM

The Govigama only Kandy sects are a big problem. They advocate for continued discrimination and continued lack of protections for marginalized woman. President so desperate for votes he will do any bad thing to keep the troublesome Nikaya leaders mouth quiet about this matter.

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Sokrates Wednesday, 08 May 2024 09:07 AM

In Sri Lanka a special law must be passed to protect women from discrimination, which has long been normal in developed countries. This is pathetic. Sri Lanka, a country that still lives in the Middle Ages or in the jungle. A country where most women still believe that their husband has the right to beat them. A country where women are still not promoted to the highest positions such as IGP or army general, or to the highest executive levels of private companies. If women held such positions, many things would run more easily and smoothly. But it will take decades to drive out the macho behavior of the men who oppose this, including religious clerics, or to convince Muslims that women are not inferior.

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Rip Winkle Wednesday, 08 May 2024 08:39 PM

The average or ordinary man has no issues with LGBTQ persons. It's the politicians and religious zealots who create problems for selfish reasons.

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