Indonesia and Sri Lanka are both similarly developed countries, have conflicts, both experiencing the tsunami disaster in 2004. From the similarities are certainly many things that can be learned and exchanged, especially in women’s issues and the women’s movement. In Sri Lanka, women had a long struggle for justice and equality. Therefore, represented by two researchers, WRI deems it necessary to conduct a study visit to the two women’s organizations that had long been the establishment of the Women’s Education and Research Centre (WERC) and the Center for Women’s Research (CENWOR).
1982 saw the inauguration of this organization as the Women’s Education Centre (WEC). It was founded by a small group of feminist researchers and activists to highlight the status of women in the country and to publish material, which could be used by women in their struggle for liberation. The broad objectives of WEC were to increase women’s awareness, their resources and opportunities for effective participation in the economic, political and social life of the country. WERC’ aim to raise the consciousness of women and men at society level, including civil society and work as an instrument for policy change at state level. Close scrutiny in socio-political and socio-cultural institutions and structure aid us to determine incidences of the subordination of women. It is our belief that research and education carried out in these areas will pave the way to achieve gender equality.
Concerned by the paucity of data to address the disadvantaged position of women, a group of academics, researchers and activists who were involved for several years in research and action-oriented programs relating to women joined together in 1984 to form the Centre for Women’s Research (CENWOR). Commencing with policy and action oriented research, CENWOR, over the years has expanded its work to include action programs, gender sensitization and training, information dissemination and communication. It joined with other women’s groups to lobby and advocate for policy changes to secure women’s rights. Its research studies encompassed almost all facets of gender issues and these findings were disseminated and shared widely through print and electronic media to enable likeminded organizations and individuals involved in gender issues to intervene as appropriate.
Study visits are generally discussions, exploring information and getting to know each other, exchanging views and understanding about:
- Actual issues of gender Indonesia and Sri Lanka
- Gender studies and training
- Gender policies and strategies of implementation
- International / regional networks and collaboration
- Knowledge management
Based on discussions with two organizations, it can be arrested that they succeeded in advocating birth of the law on rape in Sri Lanka. In addition they also succeeded in elevating the welfare and the degree of life of women widows after conflict. Like WERC which provides training to tuk-tuk drivers (public transportation) or CENWOR providing reading courses for the high female illiteracy in several provinces in Sri Lanka. To achieve success, both WERC and CENWOR, have and maintain a good relationship with the government and the media in Sri Lanka.
One thing in particular about the two organization’s countries is that they have not yet achieved the representation of women in the political sphere, where the representation of women in Sri Lanka is currently only about 5%. Therefore they are very interested in how the Indonesian women’s movement could push the number of women’s representation in politics in Indonesia.
At the end of the visit WRI exchanged some books and publications required by both organizations visited.
Women Research Institute 