Women's Rights: 100 years later

2011 marks 100 Year Anniversary of International Women’s Day (1911-2011)

(March 08, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) International Women’s Day grew from women’s struggles starting in the early 1900s when women were deep in the struggle for the right to vote, the right to work for fair and equal pay, shorter working hours, the right to free expression and respect which was often denied them in society. So this is the centenary celebration which is to be held on 8th March, this year.

International women’s day was fist celebrated in 1975 by United Nations and thereafter it is being continuously celebrated yearly on 3rd March every year. This year’s theme is appropriately of the United Nation’s calls for, ”Equal access to education, training and technology :Pathways to decent work for women”. This day is the most suitable day for assessing and recognizing their (women’s) achievements regardless of divisions on the national, ethnic or cultural fields. In Srilanka, the case is very pathetic. Still the domestic violence is existing in a grater extent. How many cases of abuses/violence on their wives after consuming liquor by their husbands. The males are dominating in society, wherever you go this is the case. Even they are employing in an estate or in a trade the salary given to women is not equivalent with that of men.

Take the case in the south, how many widows who lost their husbands due to the civil unrest fought by the four forces against the LTTE. At the same time, there were thousands who became widows from the Tamil community especially in North and East as a result of the civil unrest fought for the last 30 years prior to May 2009. As a responsible nation, we all must get together and do something to heal the wounds of all those Widows to uplift their living conditions with a livelihood to come out of this misery ,and to become true Srilankans along with the assistance of the government. We have heard of hidden stories of bravery of our women of different ethnic groups who were caught up in the conflict areas .Still there are gender based violence occur almost in everywhere.This prevents women enjoying their right place in the society.

Ordinary women should be commended on this day on their courage on the progress made for their rights .The UN is promoting participation of women in achieving sustainable development, peace and security for all and respect of for human rights for all. In Srilanka the empowerment of women is not that enough in any field whether it is in political, religious or social and hence empowering women to work side by side with men is an immediate need for now.