By Kamalini Wijayatilake and Camena Guneratne

The Sri Lanka Report on domestic violence was undertaken by CENWOR for the regional project on Monitoring Progress in the Elimination of Discrimination Against and the Achievement of Equality for women, conducted by the International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia-Pacific (IWRAW-AP). The purpose of the project was to create a mechanism by which to assess and facilitate the fulfilment of State obligations under the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Beijing Platform for Action. CENWOR as the focal point in Sri Lanka for this project was required to identify a priority area to be monitored based on whether it results in extensive gender disparities. CENWOR identified violence against women as the area it would study, with specific reference to domestic violence. The first activity of the project would be to produce a baseline report on the identified issue as a basis on which to measure the fulfilment of the State’s obligations in the advancement of women’s rights.

Asia Pacific Gender Equality Network (APGEN), Centre for Women’s Research (CENWOR) Colombo, 2002, 105p.