The International Women's Day was Celebrated by the "Women's Action for Social Justice " a composite of 174 Organizations convened by the "Savisthri" (Women for Development Alternatives) Organization on 12.03.2007 at the Open Air Thearte of the Vihara Maha Devi Park Colombo, Sri Lanka from 1100hrs.to 1430hrs.Number of participants expected was 1000. It is a pleasure to indicate that more than 1000 participated from the Districts of Trincomalee, Puttalam, Gampaha, Galle, Monaragala, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Matale, NuwaraEliya, Colombo and Ampara representing farmers, fisher-folk, plantation workers and those in other fields from Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim ethnicities.
The convenor, Miss Padma of the Savisthri Organization welcomed all the participants and explained the objectives of the programme.
The theme was " To a land of humanity devoid of hunger, war and killings."
Several banners and cutouts were displayed on :-
i. "Voice of the women against hunger and obstruction to the right to live a life free from fear."
ii. "To a land of humanity devoid of hunger, war and killings."
iii. "Difference in the price index of the essential consumer items in the North and the South."
Those banners and cutouts were displayed both in the Sinhala and Tamil languages.
Three lectures were delivered highlighting the following objectives :-
(i). The International Women's Day would be more meaningful by erasing the age old vision regarding women and to convince the importance of giving due place for women to create a better society.
(ii). The escalating prices of essential consumer items are unbearable for the poor masses. This burden felt by the poor in the South is ten times heavier for those in the North who are battered by a war raging for more than two decades. Hence to exert impacts on those in authority to bring down the prices of the essential commodities.(iii). The women suffer the most due to the war situation and the terror activities prevailing in the country. People are living in fear and have lost their freedom of speech. Hence to exert impacts on both the government and the rebel groups to stop all the atrocities and create a peaceful atmosphere in the country instead of waging a war.
Speech
(i). Mrs. Gloria de Silva of " Family Relief Centre" stressed the importance of organizing themselves in the context of the present situation prevailing in the country.
(ii). Mrs. Mari Princy of " Janawabodha Kendraya " said that due to the war raging on in the North and the East, the prices of essential commodities had sky rocketed and people were faced with financial difficulties and the women suffer the most due to this condition.
(iii). Mr. Linus Jayathileke, a Trade Union activist said that the mothers as women had the right to implement an organized activity and had the opportunities to do so.
Various organizations and sectors gave their support and strength to make the event a success.
Added to this two Street Dramas were staged depicting the present situation prevailing in the country.
(i). A street drama depicting domestic violence, escalation of the prices of essential commodities, pressure and the burden placed on the women regarding the provision of daily requirement for the family and the protection of the children.
(ii). A street drama depicting the conflict situation prevailing in the North and the East and the resultant pressure and the burden placed on the women.
Hand bills indicating facts relating to the relevant themes were distributed amongst the participants. The provocative attitude of the media where they are biased and publish reports fanning the flames of war and permanent displacement of people too were embodied in the hand bill.
At the end the participants proceeded from the Vihara Maha Devi Park towards the Lipton Corcus in a procession carrying placards. It was a silent protest march with the mouths tied with black bands. The crowed disperced at about 1430hrs.
The whole programme was a success.
Impacts
Media Co-ordination / Publicity work.
Print Media - " Lakbima " paper had published a short account of the event together with photographs in their
daily paper on the following day.
BBC - Some excerpts of the interview held by the Broad-Casting Corporation had gone on the air in
the "Sandeshaya" programme.
Challenges
Although this programme was initially scheduled to be held on 2007.01.14 it had to be postponed twice due to the prevailing situation in the country and due to lack of time for proper organization of the event.
Even the basic organizational work had been done with certain alterations.
The programme originally planned to exert impacts to achieve peace subsequently had to be carried out based on the International Women's Day.
Due to the prevailing conflict situation in the country the network "Women's Action for Social Justice " implemented the programme although it had some fear.
Lessons learnt
We realized that there was a limitation to the threats for impacts exerted by the women.
The realization that programmes planned should be changed in keeping with the prevalent situation.
Evaluation
The next meeting is scheduled to be held on 21st instant and it is expected to subject this programme held on 12.03.2007 for evaluation.
Padma Pushpakanthi, Convenor, Women's Action for Social Justice.