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| Monday, 23 February 2004 |
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Open letter to political leaders from the Sri Lanka Women's Conference The Sri Lanka Women's Conference (SLWC), pluralistic service Consortium of Women's Organisations founded in 1934, regrets to note from reports in the print media, that nominations of female candidates is low despite the SLWC and other women's organisations having always pointed out the importance of a shared gender leadership in Parliament, the highest legislative and policy making forum in the country. This is most unfortunate especially since women are more than half our population, contribute to the economy in no small measure if one considers women migrant workers and those in the agriculture, plantation and garment manufacturing sectors, and are active in civil society at all levels professionally and in social service. It is not however too late to correct this before the closing date for nominations, the Sri Lanka Women's Conference says in an open letter to the local polity. It says further there are many reasons as to why women candidates are few in comparison to men - the violence and vilification and trained election environment is a major one - but this does not mean that they are not interested in politics nor in being candidates. It is well-known that political parties use their women members to the maximum advantage except in nominating them as candidates. Apart from their being deserving of nominiaton they need financial and party support as given to male candidates. In addition to the need for nominating women candidates, there is no reason why women's status in society cannot be improved and ways and means found to give them a position of equality and equity as citizens. "We therefore request all political parties contesting the elections to include in their manifestos sincere statements. (1) That gender equality and equity will be a major goal which will be sincerely pursued in implementation. (2) To uphold the rights and welfare of children, youth and elders (keeping in mind that here too there is need to maintain gender equality and equity). (3) To maintain and promote peace, ethnic and religious harmony. (4) To refrain from violence. (5) To refrain from bribery and corruption. (6) Expeditiously bring to justice those who incite ethnic and religious enmity and indulge in violence, bribery and corruption, irrespective of who they are. (7) To refrain from appointing kith and kin to official posts. (8) To limit national expenditure to positive purposes in the national interest. "In earnestly asking for these as a manifestation of a sincere policy of national service, we would like to also remind all political parties that youth, women and elders wield the power of the ballot in numbers that will be decisive at the elections. |
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