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International women’s day programme on the 14th march 2023

United Nation Development Programme Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Women Lawyers’ Assosiation join hands to improve access to justice to women.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka together with the Sri Lanka Women Lawyers’ Association (SLWLA) held a discussion in line with the International Women’s Day theme for this year, ‘DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality’, with the participation of key partners of the legal fraternity, development sector and UN agencies, to raise awareness on the increased gender digital divide, challenges with cyber harassment and the importance of access to justice for women facing cyber violence.

Ms. Ruchira Gunasekera, President of SLWLA and Ms. Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative for UNDP in Sri Lanka signed a partnership agreement on 15th March 2023 at the Office of United Nations in Sri Lanka, Colombo to enhance the capacities of women legal professionals and to provide legal services to vulnerable women ensuring equal access to justice. The partnership is a part of UNDP’s flagship Support to Justice - JURE Programme, jointly implemented with the Ministry of Justice and UNICEF Sri Lanka, and funded by the European Union.

Speaking of the partnership, Ms. Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative for UNDP in Sri Lanka, stated, “With this partnership, we firmly believe that we can reach out to the most vulnerable women who are in need of effective legal guidance and assistance. I hope that through our partnership, the SLWLA will be in a better position to deliver systematic legal aid services to SGBV survivors at district and national level.”

Delivering the keynote address at the commemorative event, Hon. Justice Her Ladyship Kumuduni Wickremasinghe, Judge of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka on “ Predators Beyond the Digital Space: A judicial overview of Cyber Harassment in Sri Lanka”. said, “Considering the rampant nature of cyber harassment targeting socially vulnerable groups such as women and young girls, it is vital that the legal system of any country is adequately equipped.”

Highlighting the role of technology on women’s rights, Ms. Ruchira Gunasekera, President of the Sri Lanka Women Lawyers’ Association noted, “The transformative power of the internet needs to provide equal opportunities to improve lives of both women and men. Ensuring safety in the digital space is crucial, as access to the internet is increasingly recognized as a fundamental human right that leads to the empowerment of women”.

Also speaking at the event, Mr. Suhada Gamlath PC, Chairman of the National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses noted, “We must work together to create a pragmatic process to bring solace to women and children and protect them within existing legal spheres”.

Mr. U. R. De Silva PC, Mr. Rohan Sahabandu PC, Mr. Sujeewa Lal Dahanayake, General Secretary of the OPA, Mr. Kamal Gunasinghe, Past President of Colombo Law Society, Mr. Mahinda Lokuge, Past Secretary of Bar Association of Sri Lanka, Past presidents and members of SLWLA and several other distinguished delegates attended the event.


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