WOMEN-SRI LANKA: Private Violence Takes a High Toll

By Feizal Samath Reprint | | Print |

Feizal Samath

COLOMBO, May 6 1998 (IPS) - Ranjini, a pretty 24 year old, has walked into the office of Sri Lanka’s pioneering Women in Need (WIN) organisation more than 20 times over two years for help, after being beaten black and blue by her husband.

At least six times she has stayed, at her own request, in WIN’s shelter for battered women. And twice, assisted by the group she filed papers for legal separation but backed out at the last minute, apparently under pressure from her husband.

That was two years ago. Things have been somewhat easier since she started working in 1997, though the abuse hasn’t stopped. fearful of. According to Wijesekera, the dominating spouse has most times been amenable to counselling by WIN.

Part of WIN’s strategy has been to encourage women to be economically independent – women who are dependent on men have little room for manoueuvre, says Wijesekera. “We find that economic independence for women, even if it is working out of the home, helps to solve the victim’s problems,” she said.

WIN gives loans and assists women to set up small businesses, and also conducts awareness raising programmes on gender violence.