The speakers at the ceremony to launch the campaign to end violence against women on October 11 2004 in the south-eastern Ampara district of Sri Lanka underscored the need for a concerted effort to end violence against women.

Emphasising the need to strengthen the legal structure in the country to deal firmly with violence meted out to women in homes and the society in general, those present at the function felt that it was necessary to create awareness to reduce acceptance of domestic violence.

Nearly 100 people representing government departments, police, district administration, NGOs, lawyers and activists attended the function.

The women and children's desk of the police, set up in September 2004 in this area, was represented in full strength at the launch ceremony. The police officials said that they would extend their full support to the campaign.

Sujeewa, a police officer at the women and children's desk, disclosed that their unit everyday receives four to five cases of child sexual abuse, rape and sodomy. ''In this community children are seen as a liability. Frequent and quick divorce is common and most men and women re-marry leaving the children destitute,'' she said.

The high rate of child sexual abuse in the district and the urgent need to sensitise the society about the women affected by the conflict make the campaign doubly significant, she added.

So far, district and police officials as well as several grassroots organisations have been working on the issue of domestic violence. But these have been stand alone efforts with very little or no coordination. Many such efforts make use of religion. The police and the district officials, for instance, have sought the help of priests in the temples to sensitise people. In a few cases, the help of schools and educational institutions have been taken to influence students.

This campaign will provide a common platform for various groups to coordinate and channel their efforts.

M Jabeer, a member of the campaign district action group, briefed the audience on the progress of the campaign in the districts of Batticaloa and Ampara during the first phase of the campaign. Sumangalie Atulugama, campaign coordinator, described the progress of the national campaign and M Yogesawaran, programme officer, Oxfam GB Batticaloa sub office, gave an overview of how the campaign will be taken forward with the help of partners and allies.

Shanti Sivanesan, gender lead in Oxfam GB’s Batticaloa sub office, responsible for facilitating the district action group, and Vani Simon, a member of the campaign’s district action group, distributed the campaign material to the various partners and allies at the launch ceremony.