Role of Women in Peacebuilding in Sri Lanka
Ms. Vindhya WEERATUNGA (Sri Lanka)
A woman’s status in Sri Lanka, to a great extent, is influenced by patriarchal values ofsociety, in which her status is dependent on that of her father or husband. However, lately therole of women has evolved to a state where spouses are joint decision-makers on household
matters and the welfare of children. Overall, women are considered the nurturers anddisseminators of tradition, culture, and community values.
Sri Lanka was plagued with a brutal armed conflict for 26-years that ended in 2009.
There have also been uprisings of the anti-state groups during 1987-1989 and communal riots
in 1977 and 1983. When looking back at Sri Lanka’s history and especially the period when
the country was in armed strife, there was a group of unsung heroes: women.
During these times of conflicts, women suffered the most while their sons, husbands orbrothers were engaged in military activities. Women who were not economically active became
destitute by the loss of their male breadwinners. These women went through psychologicaltrauma, yet had to face the challenges and survive, especially for the sake of their children.
They became the mother, the father, the breadwinner and the protector of the family. These
made Sri Lankan women more resilient. The number of widows, single mothers and womenheaded households increased as a result of the armed conflict. Our experience is that womenand girls have been affected differently vis-à-vis their male counterparts by the armed
conflicts and associated violence.
Now that the country has a peaceful environment, it is important to consider how womencan play a significant role to prevent future conflicts. A peace process involves a number ofsteps and is deeply gendered. It is disappointing to see in many peace processes that it ismostly men who are in the decision-making positions. This is mainly due to the women’s status
in society in general, and especially in the political arena. Sri Lankan women have a struggle
in the patriarchal culture of the country and a bigger struggle in the political sphere, where
they are hardly represented.
Going forward, Sri Lanka needs more women in the political arena. Female
representation in Sri Lankan Parliament is less than 6%, which is below average amongst
other developing countries. The root causes of conflicts are often political in nature and requirea political solution. Women can be instrumental in bringing about a process of building
sustainable peace in the country, and this can be accelerated if there were more women inhigher-level decision-making positions in the political sphere.
In order to have sustainable peace, it is vital that women are engaged in the process at
every level. Women bring a different perspective to the peace building process as they havebeen at the receiving end of the armed conflict as ‘victims’. Children raised by mothers who
oppose violence and promote peace and ethnic harmony grow up to be adults who in turnpromote peace. This is the starting point of the chain of peace-building.
In the year 2000, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) formally acknowledged
through the creation of Resolution 1325 the changing nature of warfare, in which civilians areincreasingly targeted and women continue to be excluded from participation in peace
processes. UNSCR 1325 addresses not only the inordinate impact of war on women, but also
the pivotal role women should and do play in conflict management, conflict resolution and1

sustainable peace. As women represent over 51% of Sri Lanka’s population, it is crucial thatthey actively participate and be partners in the peace-building process.
In Summary, women have multiple roles in the peace-building process. First, womenmust have an equal say in matters that concern peace and harmony in the country. Second,as the primary caretakers of families, they are vital in guiding children from their tender ages
to lead peaceful lives. Third, as advocates of peace, women have first-hand experience ofrepercussions of the war and can build trust and confidence in future generations. Sri Lanka
needs to transform, so that women can participate in and contribute significantly to theprevention of future conflicts and sustainable peace-building in the country.

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