The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has announced that it will review Sri Lanka’s record on gender equality and discrimination against women at its upcoming session. The review will take place between February 3 and 21, with Sri Lanka’s session scheduled for February 13.
CEDAW will examine Sri Lanka alongside seven other nations, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nepal, Belarus, Luxembourg, Belize, Congo, and Liechtenstein. These countries, as signatories to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, are subject to periodic reviews by a panel of 23 independent international experts tasked with monitoring their compliance with the Convention’s mandates.
The Committee has received official reports from the Sri Lankan government, as well as submissions from national human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other stakeholders. These inputs will help assess the current state of women’s rights, legal protections, and systemic discrimination issues in the country.
During the review, Sri Lanka’s policies on gender equality, workplace discrimination, women’s political participation, reproductive rights, domestic violence laws, and social protections will be scrutinized. The Committee will also examine any progress made and address concerns raised by international and local human rights advocates regarding gender-based discrimination, violence against women, and the implementation of laws protecting women’s rights.
Sri Lanka’s track record on women’s rights has been a topic of debate, with international observers raising concerns over unequal wages, gender-based violence, inadequate representation in politics, and discriminatory laws that affect inheritance, marriage, and employment opportunities.
Following the review, the UN Committee will issue recommendations to Sri Lanka, urging the government to take corrective measures to align its policies and practices with international standards on gender equality.
