“Weaving in 1325” into Disaste Relief Efforts

January 6, 2005 - (femLINKpacific Release) With all the efforts to date since the December 26th tragedy, it is still important to continue to link the advancement of women in peace-building especially in the context of the deadly conflict in Sri Lanka, with the need right now, on the ground, which includes the need for women's authority and leadership in the recovery programmes after the terrible tsunami. If women's voices are absent from the international and national communities involved, the recovery process will be unbalanced and completely inadequate for any country's future. 
 
This is an important time for women's campaign groups in all the countries affected by the incredibly destructive sea surge to band together, as the Sri Lankan women are banding together, to form action groups demanding women's central authority in the reconstruction programmes, including supplying lists of names of women with the needed skills so that the age-old response of 'but we don't know any suitable women' will be stopped in its tracks.

 The authority gained from women's roles in this reconstruction process will remain embedded in the society and polity for ever, just as the authority gained by British women in the appalling First World War through exercising workplace and political skills equal and greater than many or most men led directly to Britain's women - after a very great struggle - achieving the right to vote and seek elected office in 1918 and 1928. 
The United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security was unanimously adopted under the Namibian Presidency on 31 October 2004. “1325” addresses a wide range of issues from conflict prevention to peace negotiations to post-conflict reconstruction. This resolution is also considered historic because of the depth of change- in procedure, assessment, delivery, attitudes and habits-that are necessary for it to be fully implemented. By adopting Resolution 1325, the Security Council reminded governments of standards that had already been set for gender equality, but remain unmet. “1325” provides much to celebrate, as it shows what is possible when NGOs, the UN system and member states work together. It is a watershed political framework that makes women — and a gender perspective — clearly relevant to negotiating peace agreements, planning refugee camps and peacekeeping operations and reconstructing war-torn societies. 
 
Women’s Groups appeal for an inclusive framework for disaster response
 
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.
 
In a press release of January 1, 2005, they advised of their own fundraising initiatives:
“ 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.”
 
According to Tsunami Women's Fund co-ordinator Visaka Dharmadasa 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:
 
• 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.
 
• 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.
 
• 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.
 
• 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.
 
• 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.
 
• 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.
 
• 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.
 
• 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
 
About Visaka Dharmadasa: She is founder of Parents of Servicemen Missing in Action, chair of the Association of War-Affected Women, and secretary of the Kandy Association for War-Affected Families.  Working to end the civil war that has gripped Sri Lanka for the last 20 years, she educates soldiers, youth, and community leaders about international standards of conduct in war and promotes the economic and social development of women across conflict lines.  She has designed and facilitated Track II dialogue processes, bringing together influential civil society leaders from both sides of the conflict.  Ms. Dharmadasa was asked by Tamil leaders to carry messages to the government when talks were floundering and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) representatives refused to speak directly with foreign embassy staff members and Norwegian negotiators.  She is currently bringing suit against the Government of Sri Lanka to force DNA testing on dead soldiers’ remains, which would enable families to be notified about the death of a loved one. 
 
Details of Fund for Tsunami Affected Women
 
1.         Name of Account:       Fund for Tsunami Affected Women  
2.         Bank account No:                   0004120-1
3.         Bank:                                       Bank of Ceylon, Pilimathalawa Branch
4.         Swift code:                              BECY- LK- LX,  7010/587
 
With this fund we plan to carry out two major projects, The first project will be done as a collective effort with a broad coalition of women’s groups, where we will use this opportunity to implement UN resolution 1325, ensuring that women’s voices will be heard. The second project will be carried out by the Association of War Affected Women focusing on “Peace through Reconciliation and coexistence, women taking the leadership”
 
1. Ours is a broad coalition of women representing a wide group of women’s organizations from all districts of the country. We will take the necessary action
(1)        to identify needs and priorities for the delivery of relief and   assistance in the immediate future
(11)      to ensure the inclusion of women in all processes of decision making in the reconstruction and rehabilitation processes,
(111)    to identify medium-term and long-term programmes that can strengthen women’s initiatives at the community level, and to ensure the protection and promotion of women’s rights in the processes of reconstruction and rehabilitation.
 
2.  We hope to rebuild a fishing village where all communities can live together as  a model village which can strengthen the peace process and let the women play a vital role in decision making on rebuilding and reconstruction of their village, giving priorities to women’s needs in the entire process.    
 
The exact necessitates and the plan for reconstruction will be posted in the www.awawsl.org official web site of AWAW by 2nd week of January 2005.
 
The donors can indicate which project they would  like the funds to be utilized.
                 
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION Please contact the Tsunami Women's Fund co-ordinator Visaka Dharmadasa direct on tel. +94 81 2224098 or venuwan@sltnet.lk