Colombo: A consultation on action against violence in post war Sri Lanka heard Church women asserting zero tolerance.

“The Church in Sri Lanka should ensure zero tolerance to violence against women at all levels, when the women in the war-torn Sri Lanka still face a rising rate of violence after decades of ethnic conflicts and civil war,” stated the participants of the November 29-30 consultation the Christian Conference of Asia organized at Colombo, the national capital.

The consultation was part of CCA’s new program initiative of Ecumenical Women’s Action against Violence (EWAAV). It was organized in collaboration with the National Christian Council in Sri Lanka at its headquarters.

The focus of the consultation was on ecumenical women in action against violence in post war Sri Lanka.

Various sessions provided opportunities for participants to deeply and critically analyze the situation of women and the difficult challenges of life in the post conflict and war situation, especially the situation of war- widows and women working in plantation sectors.

The participants shared experiences of women in the post war Sri Lanka and reported that about 40 percent of women in the country now suffer from some kind of violence, while more than 60 percent of women across the country are victims of domestic violence. At least 85,000 widows have been identified in Sri Lanka’s conflict affected areas since the end of the civil war.

The bible studies focused on violence against women encouraged participants to reflect from their local contexts and create new interpretations which are empowering and promoting peace with justice.

The participants highlighted the importance of mobilizing women and men in the church and work beyond the church boundaries to work together to change gender roles and engaged in advocacy on violence against women and gender equality using biblical theological rationale, national international and regional mechanisms at various levels.

A proposed plan of action suggested continuing the journey of empowerment and justice for women. The participants committed to create a network and coalition of women at local level to give awareness and transformation of communities.

They opined that increased theological, conceptual, moral, and practical awareness required among churches to ensure gender justice, equity, equality to combat the increasing violence against women.

Addressing the participants, CCA General Secretary Dr. Mathews George Chunakara introduced CCA’s new program thrust of empowerment and ecumenical leadership development of women.

He further added that CCA will organize an Asian Ecumenical Women’s Assembly (AEWA) in February 2019 , which will be hosted by the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan.

Sunila Amar, a consultant, said that through EWAAV the Asian conference will aim at creating more ecumenical women’s networks at local, national, sub-regional levels in Asia in the coming years to combat violence against women.