First draft of Bill on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women completed

The Select Committee appointed to look into, and report to Parliament, its recommendations to ensure gender equity and equality with special emphasis on looking into gender-based discriminations and violations of women’s rights in Sri Lanka, disclosed that the first draft of the Bill on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women has been completed.

This was mentioned at the Select Committee, chaired by MP Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, recently.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. Fernandopulle instructed the officials to seek the views of the public, gender experts, civil society organisations and women’s rights organisations 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 in newspaper advertisements.

Members of Parliament Eran Wickramaratne, Rohini Kumari Wijerathna, (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya, and Kushani Rohanadheera, Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament and Secretary to the Select Committee were present at the Committee meeting.

from The Island https://ift.tt/Yeus9rM