262 gender based complaints last year

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Two hundred and sixty two complaints were received by the Centre for Gender Complaints, the National Committee on Women, Child Development and Women’s Empowerment Ministry last year, Ministry sources said.

Sources said in 2006 there was only 258 complaints on violence against women reported from Sri Lanka.

According to 2007 statistics there are 69 complaints of domestic violent incidents and 56 complaints of miscellaneous incidents of violence against women.

The number of complaints received by the Centre for Gender Complaints in 2007 on maintenance and divorce disputes is 33 and 25 regarding family disputes. The number of complaints received regarding land disputes is 21 and 13 on sexual harassment.

Twelve complaints about murder and grievous hurt, six on rape and three regarding child abuse (girls) respectively were received.

The highest number of complaints which was 29 had been received in July, 2007. According to 2006 statistics, the highest number of complaints which is 83 had been received from the Colombo district and the second highest from the Gampaha district.

The Kalutara district recorded 23 complaints in the same year. All the above complaints are gender based and committed against females.