2020 Nov 20
To commemorate the International Day of Elimination of Violence against Women, here at Pulse we would like to touch on the importance of this red-letter date and what services are available in our island nation to seek respite and safety.
To further clarify, the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women issued by the UN General Assembly in 1993, defines violence against women as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life’’.
Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today and remains largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it.
In many cultures, violence towards women is accepted as a social norm. Women are affected by diverse forms of violence, most commonly domestic abuse, sexual exploitation, rape, forced and child marriage. This is because of deeply entrenched poverty, low levels of education and societal values. This must be challenged as a matter of urgency, and the blame faced by victims must be eliminated.
Let us stand together to eliminate violence against Women. Below is a list of services available to those that may need help!
General
Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Affairs
This has been established with the objectives of providing assistance and relief for the receiving complaints related to all forms of discrimination against women, defilement of the rights of women, harassment and all kinds of abusive circumstances.
Open time: every weekday from 8.30am to 5pm and relevant measures have been taken to operationalise this for 24 hours.
Address: 5th Floor, Sethsiripaya Stage II, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka.
Phone Number: 1938
Sri Lanka Police Child and Woman Bureau
Created to provide assistance and relief to women and children who need protection from any violence or abuse.
Open time: 8.30am to 5pm
Address: 180/19 Grandpass Rd, Colombo 01400
Phone Number: 011 2826444/011 276 8076
Women In Need Sri Lanka
For the last 30 years, Women In Need has been one of Sri Lanka’s leading organisations committed to the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls.
Open time: 24-hour hotline
Address: 25 Tickell Rd, Colombo 00800
Phone Number: 011 471 8585
Family Planning Association
Family Planning Association provides counselling for women and children facing domestic violence.
Open time: 8:30am to 5pm
Address: 37, 27 Bullers Ln, Colombo 4
Phone Number: 011 255 5455
Family Health Bureau
Family Health Bureau (FHB) is the focal point for Maternal and Child Health (MCH) in Sri Lanka and is responsible for planning, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the MCH and Family Planning services in the National Family Health Programme.
Open time: 8:30am to 5pm
Address: 231 De Saram Pl, Colombo 01000
Phone Number: 011 268 1309/011 269 6677
Ma-Sevana – Sarvodaya
Ma-Sevana – Sarvodaya is a place for young mothers who have been victims of sexual abuse, rape and incest. It provides residential care and protection.
Open time: 9am to 5pm
Address: No 98, Rawatawatta Road,Moratuwa , Sri Lanka
Phone Number: 011 265 5577
Women’s Development Centre
‘The Women’s Development Centre (WDC) is a well-recognised national level NGO, serving and empowering women, children, youth, persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups within society.
Open time: 9am to 5pm
Address: 61, Mulgampola Road,Kandy
Phone Number: 081 222 8158
Lanka Youth Organisations Network (LYON)
A youth organisation that is a point for referrals in cities across Sri Lanka. – Colombo Kalutara Gampaha Ratnapura Kegalle Nuwara Eliya Matale Galle Matara Hambantota Anuradhapura Polonnaruwa Kurunegala.
Open time: 9am to 5pm
Address: 755/2, Pannipitiya Road, Battaramulla
Phone Number: 011 288 7667
Vikalpani National Women’s Organisation
An organisation branching out to Colombo Monaragala Anuradhapura Matale Ampara Trincomalee working for the rights and protection of women and children.
Open time: 9am to 5pm
Address: 842/3, Dhaham Mawatha, Malambe
Phone Number: 011 274 4160
Sinhala Women’s Development Organisation
Operating in the Colombo Galle Trincomalee Matale Matara areas and providing assistance to women in need.
Open time: 9am to 5pm
Address: 2022, National Housing Complex, Vipulasena Mawatha, Colombo 10
Phone Number: 011 268 5552
Norwegian Refugee Council
Provision of Legal Aid and referrals and is in operation in Colombo Ampara Batticoloa Puttalam and Trincomalee.
Open time: 9am to 5pm
Address: 19/5, Horton Place, Colombo 7
Phone Number: 011 267 9210/077 373 3537
Western Province
The Salvation Army Sri Lanka
The Salvation Army provides shelter women and children affected by family violence. They provide short term shelter.
Open time: 9am to 5pm
Address: 53 Sir James Peiris Mawatha
Phone Number: 011 232 4660
Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum (MWRAF)
MWRAF conducts extensive research on violence against women, political use of religion, reproductive health, early/forced marriage and they provide counselling, legal aid and referrals.
Open time: 9am to 5pm
Address: 175 A, Nawala Road,Nugegoda
Phone Number: 011 440 5902/077 757 9984/077 306 3516
Community Concern Society
The Community Concern Society stands up for the basic human rights of women children and families and runs a shelter for abused women called Heavena.
Open time: 6am to 6pm
Address: 15/4 Aponsu Road Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
Phone Number: 011 272 1812
The Welcome House
Provides services to women and their children who are affected by domestic violence by opening their institution to safe and secure short term temporary shelter, one to one counselling services, police assistance, connections to medical and legal help.
Open time: 9am to 5pm
Address: 133, Ananda Rajakaruna Mawatha, Borella.
Phone Number: 011 269 1871
Sumithrayo
Sri Lanka Sumithrayo is a government-approved charity founded in 1974, by late Mrs. Joan De Mel and is instrumental in the mental health movement in Sri Lanka with emphasis on women and vulnerable groups.
Open time 9am to 5pm
Address 60B, Horton Place, Colombo 7
Phone Number 011 269 2909
Northern Province
Care International
Care has been in Sri Lanka since 1950. They currently work in the regions of Batticaloa Killinochchi Vavuniya Polonnaruwa Moneragala Jaffna Hambantota Nuwara Eliya and works as a safe referral point and provides support to women who need help.
Open time: 9am to 5pm
Address: 221, Bar Road, Batticaloa
Phone Number: 065 222 6128/077 344 4128
Suriya Women’s Development Foundation
A collective of women activists and feminists working to promote women’s rights in the Batticaloa District in Eastern Sri Lanka. They aim to create an equitable and peaceful society which is non-discriminatory, free of violence and respects and treats women with equality and dignity.
Open time: 9am to 5pm
Address: 27A, Lady Manning Drive, Batticaloa
Phone Number: 065 222 4483/077 672 6745
Southern Province
Women’s Centre
Provision of legal aid, counselling and referrals to those in the area.
Open time: 9am to 5pm
Address: Gampaha 52/61, Peris Watta, Ekala,Ja Ela
Phone Number: 011 223 1152
Community Development Foundation (CDF)
Offers referrals and provides assistance and is based in Ratnapura, Kegalle, Badulla, Galle.
Open time: 9am to 5pm
Address: 8A/B3, Warkathota Road, Ratnapura
Phone Number: 077 352 6006
Eastern Province
Affected Women’s Forum (AWF) (Ampara)
An organisation assisting in the creation of women’s society with sustainable empowerment programmes enshrined in the principles of gender equality.
Open time: 9am to 5pm
Address: RKM Road, Akkaraipattu
Phone Number: 067 227 8237/063 742 9005
People’s Welfare Association Batticaloa
Aids the vulnerable in a host of matters, uplifting livelihoods and the mental wellbeing of the area’s residents.
Open time: 9am to 5pm
Address: Bharathy Lane,Main Street, Kiran, Batticaloa.
Phone Number: 065 365 1153
Central Province
Women in Action
A Kandy-based organisation that provides assistance to women suffering from domestic violence.
Open time: 9am to 5pm
Address: 61/2, Davulagala Road, Peradeniya
Phone Number: 081 238 4053/071 814 3783
Sunila Women and Children’s Development Foundation
Provision of assistance and referrals to relevant services to survivors of abuse.
Open time: 9am to 5pm
Address: 24, Gamunupura, Sinhapura, Welikanda Polonnaruwa
Phone Number: 0779523782
There are a number of organisations that offer psychological and legal aid to women that have been abused. Do not ever think you are alone and that you have nowhere to go. This is our island and we do not stand for any part of our society to be subject to such disastrous realities.
Thumbnail image by Sulochana Udawela
