





COLOMBO: A walk to raise awareness around gender-based violence under the theme, ‘Towards a GBV-Free Sri Lanka: Safe Public Spaces for All’, took place last evening, starting from Independence Square and ending at the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), where the iconic landmark building was lit up in orange to signify a future free from violence against women and girls.
The walk marked the launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), an annual international campaign from International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November
to Human Rights Day on 10 December. It was organized by the United Nations in Sri Lanka, in partnership with the Government and the Forum Against Gender-Based Violence, bringing together influential stakeholders to raise awareness and drive tangible action toward ending GBV, with special attention on fostering safe and
inclusive public spaces for women and girls across the country.
Violence against women is the most widespread and pervasive violation of human rights worldwide. According
to a report by UNFPA, 90% of Sri Lankan women and girls have faced sexual harassment in public buses and
trains, while 1 in 4 women report having experienced physical and/or sexual violence since age 15
(Department of Census & Statistics, 2019). Efforts to end violence against women often face barriers, including legal gaps and social stigma.
The event, which was attended by over 600 participants including Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya; Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Saroja Paulraj; UN Resident Coordinator Marc-André Franche; and representatives from the development sector and UN agencies, private sector, civil society organizations, and members from the general public.
Highlighting the commitment of the Government of Sri Lanka to combat prevailing GBV in Sri Lanka,
Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya stated, “To end gender-based violence, we must move beyond words to action. This means confronting the deeply entrenched social norms and structural inequalities that allow
violence to persist. It means creating the conditions where justice is accessible, institutions are responsive, and survivors are supported at every level including through mental health services”.
Commenting on the need for collective action, Marc-André Franche, the United Nations Resident Coordinator
in Sri Lanka emphasized that the responsibility of addressing gender-based violence should not be limited to a
few: “Ending gender-based violence is not just about protecting women and girls—it’s about transforming our
societies to uphold dignity, equality, and justice for all.