South Asian Women in Media Sri Lanka Chapter statement on International Women’s Day
Saturday, 8 March 2014 00:00
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The South Asian Women in Media Sri Lanka Chapter has issued the following statement to mark the International Women’s Day.
On 8 March the world marks International Women’s Day, a day that recalls and celebrates the women’s struggle for equality and recognises the contribution women continue to make for the advancement of their societies.
The United Nations declared 8 March as the International Women’s Day in 1975 which continues to be celebrated around the world in many different ways.
According to a recent survey carried out by UKAID, “Globally, women do 60% of the world’s work but only earn 10% of the world’s income and only own 1% of the world’s property,” highlighting the economic disparity that exists despite their ever increasing contributions to the advancement of the world.” It further stated, “When a woman generates her own income, she reinvests 90% of it in her family and community.”
In Sri Lanka too, women have been in the forefront as prime income generators in a variety of spheres, contributing to the growth of the country which is yet to be duly acknowledged.
Despite the advancement women have collectively managed to achieve, as in the rest of South Asia, in Sri Lanka too, safety of women has become a serious concern. It is unfortunate that women are increasingly becoming unsafe, also reflected in the media industry, with women journalists coming under various types of attacks including intimidation, threats, harassment and even murder, reflecting a social malady.
As this year’s theme for the International Women’s Day being “Inspiring change”, the South Asian Women in Media Sri Lanka Chapter urges the authorities to investigate the crimes committed against women journalists and media workers in the past and to ensure better maintenance of law and order in the country which would contribute to make a safe environment for women.
