As they mull these questions, Lankan women must not, however, lose sight of the remarkable achievements and strides they have made since Independence. These achievements have been made despite male opposition, which is the biggest hurdle that women in this country face, to realise their goals in life. Literacy rates among women are among the highest in South East Asia: their lifespan is higher than in most Asian countries: maternal mortality rates are among the lowest in Asia. More women are also now entering the highest portals of learning, their numbers even exceeding that of their male counterparts. This has resulted in an unprecedented explosion of professionally qualified women holding highflying jobs.

Post Independence Sri Lanka also saw other wide ranging efforts to uphold women’s positions and promote their participation in socioeconomic, sociopolitical and cultural development of the country. Among them were some genuine efforts by respective governments to end gender inequality.

To cite some examples: In 1978, for the first time, gender equality and freedom from discrimination on the basis of sex, was officially recognised in Sri Lanka, when it was enshrined in the Constitution. Subsequently, Sri Lanka also accepted the UN Charter of Womens’ Rights. This was followed by ratifying the UN Convention on Eliminating Discrimination Against Women. A separate Ministry of Women’s Affairs was another significant landmark in safeguarding women’s rights, with the incorporation of a Women’s Bureau under the same Ministry in 1978.

Women’s entry into the labour force was another significant milestone. Today, 53% of the labour force comprises women- outnumbering the males for the first time.

All this shows that, women’s role and status in Sri Lanka has undergone many changes after Independence. Of them, perhaps the most significant change has been their access to free education and higher education, which helped break down the barriers they face, to some extent.

Obstacles women still face

Yet, in spite of these notable achievements, Lankan women, in general, continue to suffer from various forms of discrimination, which have collectively, jeopardised their status within society, and even put their health and lives on the line. Glaring instances of gender bias that have lately surfaced prove that, the interventions made so far on their behalf, areclearly insufficient: to end the wide prevalence of gender inequality that still exists.

Ironically, this gender bias against women is most evident in areas where women dominate, at least numerically.

Take the labour force for example.

While we may be able to finally boast of now having more working women (53%, as against 51% of males) a closer look at the kind of work they do, and the skills that they possess, clearly indicates the extent of gender bias that currently exists in the labour sector. Only a fraction of employed women for example, are professionally qualified or equipped with adequate skills. The largest proportion of women for instance, are in the agriculture and the allied sector (41.5%), and are mostly women from rural areas, with minimal educational qualifications (between Grades 5- 7). Women in the estate sector fare no better, occupying the lowest rungs in the employment ladder, because of the poor skills. In a recent survey in the Badulla district, by the Foreign Employment Bureau, it was found that 90% of the women who applied for jobs as housemaids, were from the estate sector, with educational qualifications between Grade 5 and 6.

In the Free Trade Zones, the bulk of women employees again, occupy the lowest rungs in the employment ladder and are mainly rural women, with few skills to move up from their present positions.

Minister of Child Development and Women’s Empowerment, Sumedha Jayasena, endorsed this in an interview with a State paper last year on International Women’s Day, where she was quoted as saying that, 75% of working women belong to the impoverished rural community, and that, there was up to now, no strategy or institute with lodging facilities and other requirements to train rural women for work - both at the Free Trade Zones and in foreign employment, which was their preferred areas of employment.

As she observed, “Women today, have a voice. But it is not enough”

Even in the case of migrant women workers, who are among the biggest contributors of foreign exchange to the country, “the inputs and incentives given them”, she added, “were not enough”.

Economic inequalities are one of the most important factors leading to gender inequality. This gap can only be narrowed with more economic opportunities being made available to them.

Politics and women

Female participation in politics, in an essentially patriarchal society too, is disappointing. The few women who have made it to Parliament are, usually, those who have had relatives in the same seats before. Most women say that the rising violence surrounding politics in this country is one of the main reasons for not getting involved in the local political scene.

Health and gender inequality

Although Sri Lankan women have one of the highest life expectancy levels at 80 years, in Asia, and lowest mortality rates, still, there is an unacceptably high rate of morbidity (illness) among them. Despite intervention projects by the State, a 2001 report said that, 32% of non pregnant women and 21% of pregnant women were anaemic. Anaemia in pregnant women results in low weight babies, which, in turn, results in stunting and poor growth. Causes for this widespread anaemia among women has been attributed to iron deficiency (found mostly in the S&W zone) hookworm and poor diets with low protein calcium and iron.

Gender bias against female children, has also resulted in their receiving poor diets within impoverished families, where there is still a son preference, resulting in malnutrition and anaemia, which results in them giving birth to malnourished low weight babies with a poor start in life.

Additionally, although mortality rates among mothers have declined, due to State interventions and increased hospital births, as well as immunisation against communicable diseases, the incidence of non communicable disease among women has increased twofold, says a study.

Violence against women

Of all the examples of how gender inequality impacts on women, the most serious and most widespread gender based crimes is violence against women.

A spokesman from the Bureau for Preventing Abuse in Women and Children, was recently quoted as saying that, “violence against women hasn’t decreased. If at all, it may have increased.”

The source also was quoted as saying that Police stations routinely record between 6,000 and10,000 cases of violence against women per month, although the actual figures may be much higher, due to under-reporting. Recent Studies have also shown that, more than 60% of women and 44% of pregnant women in Sri Lanka have suffered from domestic violence.

Domestic violence is, undoubtedly, the most widely prevalent form of abuse against women in Sri Lanka. Leading women’s rights activist Maureen Seneviratne has been quoted as saying that, “Violence, especially, domestic and sex abuse still remain under reported due to various social stigma attached to these crimes.,” while a UNFPA official recently said that, “Breaking this silence is one of the biggest challenges facing Sri Lanka”.

Who is at risk?

The Gender Based Violence (GBV) Forum says that, women in conflict zones in the North and East, in post tsunami camps, orphanages and institutions and detention camps are those at highest risk of such abuse. Apart from them are the thousands of working women in the FTZ’s, who are harassed constantly, while on their way to work or returning from work, women bus commuters and those travelling alone in trains (the Legal Aid Centre says that 43% of all female commuters of public transport undergo sexual harassment), those standing for buses at bus stations in the evening or waiting for their trains in railway stations, and of course, women working in offices, where male colleagues subject them to all manner of sexual harassment, or are coerced into sexual relations with their bosses, on the threat of losing their jobs. Despite awareness programmes and the stand recently taken on abuse of women in workplaces, by the Chamber of Commerce, which has received the cooperation of several firms, gender biased harassment against working women is still high.

The GBV launched a 16-point public advocacy campaign last November, that included slogans on buses, a white ribbon campaign and a media campaign, where men were asked to speak out against violence. The campaign began on November 25 and ended on December 10- World Human Rights Day.

“At least 60 % of all women in Sri Lanka have experienced domestic violence”, this Forum, a union of UN and other local and international organisations states.

“The prevalence of gender based violence is reportedly high and widespread…”, Country Representative- UNFPA, Christianson, was quoted as saying at the November 25th ceremony to mark International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women. Referring to domestic violence, she said, “While some positive measures to address gender violence through enactment of laws is in place, it remains hidden in a private domain and denied.”

One of the most significant steps taken to stop this violence was the passing of the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act in 2005. Sadly, even after passing this law, the numbers of women abused in their own homes, by husbands, uncles and even brothers, have not come down significantly. Incest is also on the increase, following the vast exodus of mothers to the Middle East countries, leaving their daughters at the mercy of their husbands, and other close male relatives, who find these hapless girls, easy prey for their sexual gratification.

Sociologists have pointed out that most women suffer domestic violence in silence, out of shame, or because they are economically dependent on their spouses. Giving them skills and means of earning an independent income is one way to help these women trapped by domestic abuse, they suggest.

More shelters for battered women is also an urgent need, considering the growing number of women desperate to get away from domestic abuse.

At present, only WIN (Women in Need) has such a home, where counselling and free legal aid is also given, and an attempt to reconcile the couples also made. Recently, the Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Empowerment also opened one in Kalutara. But these two homes are woefully inadequate, when compared with the large numbers of women needing them.

Inadequate penalties to offenders

Penalties for rapists, and for other forms of abuse against women is also inadequate, varying from Court to Court, with the offenders often getting away with minor sentences such as fines and suspended imprisonment, points out a woman lawyer.

News that penalties for offenders will now be increased to a lifetime prison sentence, comes as refreshing news to all these silent sufferers.

Gender inequality is thus the root for most injustices to which the Lankan woman is subject today.

According to a recent report published by the World Economic Forum, Sri Lanka was placed 12th, in narrowing the gender gap among countries in the world, with developed countries such as UK, USA and Switzerland tailing her. However, narrowing this gap alone has not reduced the rising incidence of gender based violence.

So, the real significance of this day lies in meaningful, practical solutions to end this menace.

Giving her equal rights, both in her private and public life, and empowering her with economic independence, thre is the answer Lankan woman can finally emerge from her subservient role in a society long dominated by men, and fight back the violence perpetrated on her more effectively.