UN Women Sri Lanka launches SamaTheevu installation to promote gender equality

From left: Emeritus Professor of Law, Savitri Goonesekere, Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs Dr. Namal Sudarshana, UN Sri Lanka Resident Coordinator Marc-André Franche and UN Women Sri Lanka Head of Office Ramaaya Salgado 

• Sri Lanka’s gender equality struggles
• Collective action to accelerate progress
• SamaTheevu installation: A vision of a gender-equal future
• Global support for gender equality

By Amira Cader

UN Women Sri Lanka unveiled SamaTheevu, a public installation designed to inspire action towards a gender-equal world recently. 

The interactive installation coincides with International Women’s Day and the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action—a globally recognised blueprint for advancing gender equality and women’s rights.

While progress has been made, gender equality in Sri Lanka has faced setbacks in recent years. Between 2020 and 2025, women’s labour force participation has stagnated and the proportion of women in parliament has remained below 10% since the country’s independence. Alarmingly, 24% of Sri Lankan women report experiencing physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner. According to the Global Gender Gap Report, Sri Lanka’s ranking in closing the gender gap has fallen dramatically—from 13th place in 2006 to 122nd place in 2024.

Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs Dr. Namal Sudarshana spoke at the launch event, acknowledging that despite progress since 1995, the status of women in Sri Lanka has stagnated. He attributed this stagnation to the multiple crises the country has faced and reiterated the ministry’s commitment to advancing gender equality.

“The 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration is a pivotal moment for Sri Lanka. It is time for us to accelerate progress on gender equality,” said Dr. Sudarshana.

UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Marc-André Franche echoed these sentiments, calling for collective action to close the gaps in gender equality. He pointed out that Sri Lanka’s obligations under CEDAW were recently reviewed, offering a critical opportunity for the country to assess its progress and identify areas for improvement.

“As Sri Lanka continues its journey towards gender equality, the UN remains committed to supporting the country in this crucial process, highlighting that closing the gender gap requires not only political will but collective action from all sectors of society,” Franche stated.

The SamaTheevu installation invites visitors to envision a society where every individual—regardless of gender—has equal rights and opportunities. Through an immersive and interactive experience, the installation emphasises that gender equality is not only a fundamental human right but also a critical driver of social and economic progress. Emeritus Professor of Law Savitri Goonesekere, a renowned Sri Lankan academic and key figure in shaping the Beijing Declaration, attended the launch and offered her insights. Reflecting on the past three decades, she highlighted the need for new strategies to tackle emerging challenges such as cybercrimes and artificial intelligence in the fight for gender equality.

“Celebrating 30 years of the Beijing Platform for Action provides an opportunity to address new realities and formulate interventions that can eliminate discrimination against women and ensure that education translates into real opportunities for women, Sri Lanka must priorities policies that promote gender equality in the workplace, reduce gender-based violence and create more inclusive spaces for women in decision-making processes. Without these changes, the cycle of educating women without providing them equal opportunities will continue, limiting the country’s progress toward true gender equality,” Goonesekere said.

The launch of SamaTheevu marks a significant moment in Sri Lanka’s continued commitment to gender equality. In 1981, the country ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and in 1995, Sri Lanka joined 189 other countries in adopting the Beijing Declaration. However, despite these commitments, challenges remain.

UN Women Sri Lanka Head of Office Ramaaya Salgado emphasised the importance of global data that shows societies where everyone is equally valued and given equal opportunities tend to flourish. She underscored the need for collective efforts to achieve the goal of gender equality.

“At UN Women, we believe that achieving gender equality requires collaboration and determination from all sectors of society. Only by working together can we ensure that everyone has the chance to thrive,” Salgado stated.

SamaTheevu serves as a rallying call for all sectors of society to actively participate in advancing women’s rights and gender equality. It challenges all forms of violence, discrimination and exploitation while fostering empowerment to ensure inclusive access to education, employment, leadership and decision-making spaces.

The installation, open to the public from 6 to 12 March from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Lionel Wendt, Art Centre, Colombo 7, offers an opportunity for individuals to highlight a vision of a gender-equal world while shedding light on the ongoing efforts required to bring this vision to life.

The exhibition explores impactful artworks, stories, and initiatives focused on gender equality, serving as both an inspiration and a call to action.

Visitors in Colombo are encouraged to experience this vision, as it underscores the continued work needed to achieve equality for all.

As Sri Lanka commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, the SamaTheevu installation is a powerful reminder that gender equality remains an urgent and achievable goal—one that requires the collective efforts of all members of society.