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A
collective of women’s rights groups who have conducted a series of
fact-finding missions in the tsunami-affected areas over the past week
wishes to bring to public attention serious issues concerning the safety and
wellbeing of women which have not been addressed so far in relief efforts.
We appreciate the many public initiatives to collect and deliver relief and
assist those affected by the tsunami in whatever ways are possible. However,
our observations indicate that these efforts need to be refocused to ensure
that those who have suffered as a consequence of the tsunami are not
subjected to further violence and abuse by unscrupulous persons.
The
heightened vulnerability of people in these areas due to the destruction of
communication lines and the large-scale mass displacement and death of
people has created situations in which women and girls become more likely to
encounter violence.
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In
particular, we have received reports of incidents of rape, gang rape,
molestation, and physical abuse of women and girls in the course of
unsupervised rescue operations and while resident in temporary shelters,
particularly in the south. Apart from these incidents (the number of which
is not known), these reports have also indicated that women’s mobility
continues to be restricted due to the fear of sexual violence. No proper
monitoring body has been set up to receive complaints, to take action
against perpetrators, or to ensure the safety of women in these areas.
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We urge
government authorities, and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, in
particular, to take note of these violations, and to take immediate
measures to investigate such incidents. We also urge collaboration between
state institutions and agencies such as UNHCR, OXFAM and other agencies
working on gender-based violence in this matter. Provision of adequate
security and establishing complaints mechanisms should be an urgent
priority in the relief process.
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We are
also concerned that the information flowing from the Tsunami-hit areas
does not provide detailed accounts of the numbers of specific vulnerable
communities such as pregnant women, lactating mothers, persons with
physical and mental disabilities, persons with special medical needs and
requiring daily and consistent medication. The collection of such data is
absolutely critical for identifying priority needs in the days to come. In
addition, accurate record of all those hospitalised after the tsunami
should be given wide publicity.
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The lack
of a system that could identify children separated from their families has
also hampered efforts to locate families missing children or to resettle
children with relatives in the locations where they were found. We
strongly urge the National Child Protection Authority to work in
coordination with the Department of Probation and Childcare Services to
set up a mechanism to address this problem.
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As an
initial step, measures should be taken to call on all those who know
whereabouts of unaccompanied children to register them at the nearest
Police Station or at the desk of the Department of Child Care and
Probation Services at the Divisional Secretariat, and to give adequate
publicity through the print and electronic media as to the present
whereabouts of children.
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The role
that the media can play in helping people to find missing persons and
children should be systematised so that there is no duplication of efforts
but rather a fruitful collaboration.
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The
inadequate structures of coordination within the government bureaucracy at
the level of Kachcheris and Divisional Secretariats is also a matter of
grave concern. In view of the fact that government officers in local
administration who were resident in the areas have also suffered personal
loss during this time, it is imperative that the government seconds senior
and middle-level government officials to take over administrative
functions in the tsunami affected areas in order to ensure that these
structures are able to function efficiently for relief efforts.
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Considering the enormous destruction to life and property, we urge the
government to postpone the Advanced Level Examination and all university
examinations.
Women’s
groups throughout the island are committed to extend their fullest support
to both state and non-state structures that will work for the provision of
immediate relief as well as for medium and long-term reconstruction and
rehabilitation of all those people of Sri Lanka who have been affected by
the tsunami in the framework of sustainable development and a lasting and
just peace.
MOTHERS AND
DAUGHTERS OF LANKA
SRI LANKA WOMEN’S NGO FORUM
WOMEN’S ALLIANCE FOR PEACE
WOMEN’S ALLIANCE FOR PEACE AND DEMOCRACY
ACTION NETWORK FOR MIGRANT WORKERS
1 January
2005
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