International Women’s Day 2004
International Women’s Day (IWD) on 8 March is a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women. Sewalanka Foundation offices and staff island-wide participated in IWD activities in support of women’s struggle for equality, justice, peace and development.
“The Jaffna-based Sewalanka staff, women groups and other NGOs interested in the rights and welfare of women joined hands under the aegis of UNHCR Jaffna to celebrate IWD. Over 200 women filled 14 vehicles decorated in different colours, displaying posters and banners to proceed through Jaffna. Participants sung songs, and short street-dramas were conducted throughout the procession. This mobilisation demonstrated that women are strong and dynamic members of the community, who deserve to be treated with respect and dignity in all spheres of life.
Sewalanka Mannar District staff participated in a campaign organised by the Mannar Women’s Development Foundation and funded by Oxfam. Activities included a discussion about women’s issues, a street play in Mannar Town to speak out about women’s rights and a Sewalanka organised fellowship lunch, followed by discussion to celebrate Women’s Day.
The Vavuniya-based Sewalanka Psycho-Social Project organised a cultural event, “A Flowers Emerges from the Fire” (Ginnen Pipuna Malak), an account of a strong woman’s day-to-day difficulties and how she overcomes the gender-based injustices. The event was well received by guests from all ethnic groups, including rural women and representatives from funding agencies, government authorities and other NGOs. Other Sewalanka staff also participated in events in Vavuniya organised by the NGO Consortium of Vavuniya.
In Colombo, Sewalanka Vavuniya staff participated in a national celebration to highlight the rights of women to be free from violence, oppression and suppression. The celebrations, organised by Prabodhini, a project of the National Peace Council, included a march, speeches and cultural events. Approximately 50 Sewa Society female leaders, both Sinhala and Tamil, joined the march and presented a drama, “Women’s Participation Towards Sri Lanka’s Sustainable Peace”. The performance emphasises the women’s personal and direct experiences of conflict by narrating two aspects of the 20-year conflict; the death of husbands and sons and the suffering of widows and children that follows, including the challenges and difficulties, even after the war that these women face. This was a significant event, especially as so many rural women from all the ethnic groups participated in this drama, from remote and war affected areas of Vavuniya.
