Draft of Bill on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women completed

• Chair of the Select Committee instructed the officials to seek public views, gender experts, civil society organizations and women’s rights organizations

The Select Committee of Parliament to look into and report to Parliament its recommendations to ensure gender equity and equality with special emphasis on looking into gender-based discrimination and violations of women’s rights in Sri Lanka informed that the first draft of the Bill on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women has been completed, a statement from the Parliamentary Media Unit said.

The Bill is drafted to establish a National Commission for Women, to establish a mechanism including the appointment of an ombudsman for women’s rights and to protect the rights of women and to take legal action by the commission in case of violation of such rights.

(Dr.) Sudarshini Fernandopulle, chair of the Select Committee instructed the officials to seek public views, gender experts, civil society organizations and women’s rights organizations on the said Bill.

Accordingly, it was decided to get comments pertaining to this Bill, having published it on the official websites of the Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment and the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus and publish newspaper advertisements.  MPs Eran  Wickramaratne, Rohini Kumari Wijerathna,  (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya and Ms. Kushani Rohanadheera who Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General and secretary to the Select committee were present at the committee meeting held.