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| Friday, 5 March 2004 |
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by Nadira Gunatilleke Women In Need (WIN), an NGO engaged in supporting women and children subjected to violence and abuse will open its third One Stop Crisis Centre at the De Soysa Maternity Hospital for Women in commemoration of International Women's Day on March 8, a WIN spokeswoman said. The centre has been set up on a request by a doctor. Another Counselling Desk will open at the Kirulapone Police station on a request. WIN will also launch its website on International Women's Day. WIN has introduced a new concept of multi agency approach to violence against women in establishing the One Stop Crisis Centre. WIN maintains two One Stop Crisis Centres in Colombo located at the Emergency Unit of the Colombo National Hospital and Castle Street Hospital for Women. These centres were the first to be opened in Sri Lanka offering crisis counselling and legal aid to victims of violence who are in hospital. The centres are handled by senior counsellors and last year 300 women have obtained the services of these Centres. Last year WIN had recorded over 12,000 clients, postal and telephone inquiries. WIN has successfully carried its message on violence against women and encouraged women to come forward to take up the issue of the violation of their rights. Women In Need (WIN) was established in May 1988 at No.4, Alfred Place, Colombo 3. At the beginning WIN had only one centre (its head office) which manned by one administrative coordinator and several volunteers. During its first year the centre managed only five clients. At present WIN has grown to five centres in the Western, Central, Southern, Uva and North Central Provinces. Today WIN staff consists of over 35 permanent employees including counsellors, lawyers and social workers. Counselling and psychological support for victims of violence and their families, legal support and legal services, 24 hour hotline, temporary shelter for victims of violence, legal clinics, awareness programs for community based organisations, awareness programs for law enforcement officers, gender advisory services to CBOs, NGOs and GOs, networking and collaboration, legal reform and research, publishing of educational and awareness building materials, gender development projects and training and consultation are among the activities carried out by WIN. WIN's crisis centre is in Colombo and its branch offices are located in Kandy, Matara, Anuradhapura and Badulla. Women and children who are subjected to violence and abuse are offered counselling, befriending, legal services, legal representation in court, emergency shelter and empowerment programs from these centres. Most often women who seek assistance are subjected to the worst forms of violence such as severing of limbs, ears and other organs. Some of the contributory factors for family break down is extra marital relationships of the husbands, influence of pornography and the Internet and influence of drugs and alcohol. |
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