UKRI GCRF Gender, Justice and Security Hub

• Ongoing project

The project, funded by the London School of Economics with the scope of building social harmony through a series of activities on women’s economic empowerment and awareness building of new & emerging threats from the political environment and their on the ground realities. The main aim of this project is to bring rural women together across the divide to work together for a prosperous economy & build a shared future.

SCORE – Social Cohesion & Reconciliation Strengthening Good Governance & Democracy – Women Taking Leadership

In partnership with Global Communities, the aim was to reinforce cooperative relationships across divides and to increase the participation of women in peace and reconciliation processes. The project looked towards the advancement of women of all ages and all strata of life including rural and urban, women with special needs, and indigenous women. It trained women on the Women Peace and Security (WPS) agenda enabling them to take UNSCR 1325 to the grassroots, mitigating conflicts at community level and earning respect from the local population and enhancing their leadership. They were then able to address issues hindering the full advancement and equal participation of women, limiting the achievement of sustainable peace.

The Road to Reconciliation in Sri Lanka – Through Resilience building & Social Cohesion

AWAW in partnership with the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) aimed to build social cohesion by hosting activities in the community to bring diverse individuals together, raise awareness of the threat of radicalization and share knowledge of different groups in society. Additionally, with special emphasis on gender equality, the project  strengthened the grass root level work of women through peer committees as well as working with key civil society leaders, religious leaders, trade union leaders, academics, civil society leaders, professional and women leaders through well planned strategic interventions, including advocacy and lobbying in a timely manner with important policy makers, increasing awareness of the general public of the importance of democracy and pluralism.

Localizing SDG16 Plus -Women Taking Leadership

In partnership with GPPAC, we carried out workshops on Sustainable Development Goals for men & women of the plantation sector with the aim of highlighting the importance of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals for Sri Lanka, with the contribution from all segments and sectors of the society.

National Peace Table – ‘Women do have a voice; the world should listen to it.’

Sponsored by Peace Women Across the Globe, AWAW held a National Peace Table in 2018 with the key purpose of highlighting the importance of inclusion of women at a time where Sri Lanka seeks to enhance its engagement with the international community and heal the wounds of the past. In the year following, 2019 we held another National Peace Table titled “Women do have a voice – The world should listen to it”, with the aim of enriching the Sri Lankan Reconciliation process utilising Local and International experience for women to play a central role of the process. It was titled after a quote extracted by the speech of Hon. Lord Tarik Ahamed at a reception hosted by HRH the Countess of Wessex to celebrate International Women’s Day at Buckingham Palace in March 2019.

‘She Builds Peace’ Campaign

AWAW in partnership with International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) launched a campaign ‘SHE BUILDS PEACE’ in 2020. The aim was to create awareness of the role of women peacebuilders and ensure better peace tools for women leaders. Cloth bags eblazoned with the ‘SHE BUILDS PEACE’ were handed out by women in their respective provinces to spread the campaign throughout the country. Again in 2021, we continued the campaign by bringing together women peacebuilders and subsequently they distributed umbrellas.

Strengthening Good Governance and Democracy – Women taking Leadership 

AWAW in partnership with DAI carried out workshops with the purpose of strengthening democracy and good governance in Sri Lanka by increasing women’s political participation, creating a strong network of 75 young educated women leaders from all areas, ethnicities, religions and most importantly political parties. The aim was to enable men & women politicians to advocate through understanding and awareness for the increase of women in governance structures of Sri Lanka.

Increasing Women in UN Peacekeeping

The Regional Seminar on Increasing Women in Peacekeeping was held as a follow up to the side event held in New York at the UN Head Quarters on 31st October 2017, jointly organized by the Canadian and Sri Lankan Permanent missions together with AWAW and ICAN.  This consisted of a combination of civilians and military personnel from the regional countries in South East Asia. Participants were from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives, Bangladesh and Nepal. The main aim was to discuss increasing women in UN peacekeeping missions.

The Road to Reconciliation

AWAW has carried out several activities on the topic of gendered transitional justice and reconciliation processes. Transitional justice and reconciliation processes are vital steps in the direction of sustainable peace. The project has provided an opportunity to discuss the Better Peace Tool (BPT) of ICAN to help ensure gender sensitivity in the design, substance and inclusion of all groups, especially women in the key components of the reconciliation process and to help determine the range of technical, political and financial resources needed for these processes.

Resilience through Innovation and Creativity – Women taking leadership

Ongoing project

Project funded by Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC). This project envisaged sustainable livelihood opportunities for women, to not only meet immediate needs but also to keep economic avenues open for the future. We aim to develop and replicate this project in the entire communities and district.