Policy for Gender Equality Draft Outline prepared for the Campaign for Sound Policy 24 June 2014 With inputs from Prof. Swarna Jayaweera, Dr. Shermal Wijewardena, Ms. Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala, Ms. Anberiya Hanifa, Dr. Ramani Jayasundera and Dr. Sepali Kottegoda Key Areas Womens empowerment, womens rights and Gender Equality as a specific focus area. Gender equality as a cross-cutting issue to be reflected in all policies. Sri Lanka has ratified the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (in 1981) The UN Convention for the Protection of Migrant Workers and their Families (1999) It is committed to the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action on Women (1995) Sri Lanka is now engaged with the global discussions and debates and formulations of the Post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals that will be finalized and agreed to in September 2015. Goal 3 is on Gender Equality and womens rights. Key Institutions Ministry of Womens Affairs (MWA) which is informed on policy by the National Committee on Women (NCW) and implementation carried out by the Womens Bureau.A Womens Charter was passed by cabinet in 1993. The purpose of the Charter was to inform policy formation in the country. National Action Plans on Women have been periodically formulated by the National Committee on Women. Each issue area is set out in terms of the problem, strategies, responsible institution/s (both government and non government) and a timeline. Analysis: The resources available for the MWA are very poor; budgetary allocations for the MWA is negligible and the quality and number of qualified personnel inadequate for coherent high level of effectiveness. Present state of policySri Lanka does not have a national policy on Gender Equality. Analysis: A Gender Equality Policy is urgently needed. Policy gaps - Analysis: The National Action Plan on Women has never been implemented in any substantive way. Lack of an integrated policy on Gender Equality and gaps in specific policies on diverse areas. Absence of effective mechanisms to ensure implementation and monitoring of policies and programmes from central to local levels. Specific gaps: The Education curricula (across subject areas, in all three languages), including technical and vocational training programmes are largely based on gender stereotyping. Policy on migration valorizes men as primary decision maker/income contributor who has no role to play in the care of children. Women are deprived of right to employment on the grounds of misconceptions on maternal duties. Maternity Benefits do not cover those who adopt infants. Current housing policies do not give equal ownership to spouses; men or adult sons are given ownership over women. Lack of institutional recognition of Joint Ownership Sexual orientation and gender identity are excluded from formulations of/on citizens rights. Lack of Temporary Special Measures to increase womens political representation/participation absent. Lack of policies to ensure mainstreaming of Gender Disaggregated Data. Specific gaps contd Lack of policy in key institutions to integrate emphasis on violence against women including policies toexpedite cases of violence against women. Lack of separate courts to expedite cases of rape, sexual harassment and all other forms of violence against women. Lack of inclusion of gender equality principles in curricula for Judicial Education. Lack of gender responsive framework for media policy. Lack of enumeration of Unpaid Care Work which deprives national recognition of womens labour contributions to household and national economies. Discriminatory wage practices in the informal sector (agriculture). Lack of coherent policies to recognize the strengths and economic and political role of female headed households Lack of a sexual harassment policy inclusive of grievance procedures in both government and private sectors. Suggested outline of a new policyVision and ValuesThe policy on Gender Equality would bring about acceptance and better understanding of equality of women and men and would integrate and respect diversity across ethnic, religious and sexual identities of all citizens. ObjectiveTo bring about social, economic and political norms and programmes that strengthen equality between women, menChange neededAll National Policies must integrate principles of Gender Equality A National Commission on Women must be appointed in line with the Human Rights Commission and be able to address and direct redress all issues relating to gender based discrimination. Policy to strengthen the principle of gender equality in section 12 (3) in the Constitution by reviewing and abolishing or amending all laws that are discriminatory to women. A Gender Equality Policy will:Address the need to move away from a focus that is overwhelmingly on womens reproductive roles to shared domestic, economic and political roles of women and menAddress gender stereotyping in education curricula from primary levels up gender roles should promote and support non- gender stereotyping in educational curricula and recognize sexual diversity in our society. Ensure womens individual autonomy control over their lives Challenge and change negative social norms that discriminate against women and perpetuate violence against women Address gender inequalities at the home, workplace and in societyEnsure a focus on womens rights as human rights The new policy should have a holistic perspective and a framework that reflects womens rights and gender equality underscored by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Convention on Economic Social and Cultural Rights and CEDAW which have all been ratified by Sri Lanka.