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| Minister with the first lady |
STATEMENT CALLING FOR RESIGNATION, THE MINISTER OF WOMEN’S AFFAIRS AND
CHILD DEVELOPMENT: MR. TISSA KARALLIYADDE
Mr. Tissa Karalliyadde has on several occasions made extremely
sexist remarks that are humiliating to Sri Lankan women in general, without any
sense of responsibility for the cabinet office he holds as Minister of Women’s
Affairs and Child Development. He has stated on several public platforms that
women should not be appointed to responsible positions of public office because
by nature they are unable to get on with each other and constantly fight and
slander other women.
A few days ago he stated that the idea of gender equality
is a meaningless concept advocated only by some women from NGO groups who have
no connection with the vast majority of rural women. He added that these NGO
women have rejected values of"pathivatha"(fidelity to husband) in
their family life. This abusive and insulting remark about an identified group
of women working on issues of concern to women, and implying sexual
promiscuity, were made in a TV programme (Sirasa Press Release, 15 November
2013) that received wide publicity.Minister Karalliyadde is clearly unaware that the oath of office he has taken as a cabinet minister requires him to respect and follow the norms and standards set by our Constitution and national laws, and international treaties and policies that bind the Sri Lankan State and government. We wish to remind
him that
Article 12 of our Constitution incorporates a standard of gender equality and
non-discrimination on the ground of a person’s sex. Sri Lanka, recognising its
contribution in improving the lives of women by giving equal access to health
and education, and desiring further progress, became a State Party to the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
(CEDAW) in 1981. In 1993 it adopted a policy statement known as the Women’s
Charter and which reinforces the Convention standards on gender equality
between men and women. While the Sri Lankan government has binding obligations
to implement the Constitution, National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP) and
CEDAW, it is also bound to implement the more recent Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs). These require the government to implement and monitor development
goals that will contribute to gender equality. These commitments are also
central to the core Commonwealth values that have been incorporated in the
Declaration of CHOGM. The President as
current Chair of the Commonwealth has a responsibility to ensure that these
values on gender equality are upheld by his administration.
Minister Karalliyadde in making these remarks seems also unaware of the gender equality programmes done by his own ministry to strengthen the capacity of the many community based women's groups. They too have been working together with women's NGOs across the country to carry forward an agenda of achieving gender equality so as to eliminate discrimination against women.
We have in
the past had several women cabinet ministers such as Renuka Herath, the late
Srimani Athulathmudali, Amara Piyaseeli Rathnayake, and Sumeda Jayasena who
took their role and responsibility as holders of cabinet office seriously. They
tried to work towards achieving these standards of gender equality and improve
the lives of women and men. Many Sri Lankan men, including professionals and
politicians have supported initiatives to achieve gender equality in our
society. It is a shocking indication of the breakdown in values of holders of
public office, that the first male minister of Women’s Affairs can make public
statements which undervalue Sri Lankan women, and abuse and seek to humiliate
identified groups of women. The minister's statements make it abundantly clear
that he is unaware of his responsibilities, rejects these values on gender
equality in his personal and public life.
We
strongly urge the President to call for the immediate resignation of Minister
Karalliyadde from the office he holds in the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and
Child Development and appoint a gender sensitive Minister. His gender
insensitive statements and behavior indicate that he can no longer be permitted
to function as head of a Ministry whose core purpose he undervalues and
publicly denounces.
Signatures;
167 Individuals: Prof. Savitri Goonesekere, Dr.Wijaya Jayathilaka Dr. Jehan Perera, Prof. Sitralega Maunaguru, Lalitha
Disanayake, Former Secretary, Ministry of Women,
Dr. Nimalka Fernando, Attorney –at-Law, Kumudini Samuel, Dr. Sepali Kottegoda, Prof. Maithree Wickramasinghe,
Dr. Farzana Haniffa, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Dr.
Leonie Solomons, Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Dr. Pushpa Ramlani, Dr. R.
Cheran, Dr. Ramani Jayasundere, Attorney –at-Law, Dr. Selvi Thiruchandran, Dr. Vagisha Gunasekara, Dr.
Vivimarie V. Medawattegedera, Dr. Zulfika Ismail – Canada, Dr. Shermal Wijewardene, Dr.Subangi Herath, Britto
Fernando, Buddhadasa Galappatty,
Poet/Journalist, Aaranya Rajasingam, Carmen Wickramagamage,
University of Peradeniya, Abeetha -
Social worker, Ahilan Kadirgamar, Amal de Chickera, Ameena Hussein, Anberiya
Hanifa, Shamila Daluwatte, Attorney –at-Law, Shanthini
Kongahage, Sharadha de Saram, Sharmini
Boyle, Sharni Jayawardena,
Sherine Xavier, Shiranee Dissanayake, Shreen
Abdul Saroor, Shreen Saroor, Shyamala Gomez, Shyamala
Sivagurunathan, Andrew Samuel, Anoma De Alwis ,Anoma Janadari, Anomaa Rajakaruna, Anupama
Ranawana, University of Aberdeen/Newman Theological Seminary, Anushaya Collure, B. Gowthaman, B.
Skanthakumar, Buddhima Padmasiri, Buhary Mohamed – Human
Rights Activist, C. De Silva, Journalist, , Caryll Tozer, Cayathiri D.,
Chandra Jayaratna,Chamila Thushari,
Chamindry Saparamadu, Attorney-at-Law, Chulani
Kodikara ,Damaris Wickremesekera, Dhamayanthi
Mutukumarage, Dhammika de Silva - Journalist, Rutharuwa Paper, Dharmasena Pathiraja, Dharmasiri Bandaranaike,
Dilhara Pathirana, Dilrukshi Hanunnetti,
Journalist, Lawyer, Dilshy Banu, Doreen Fernando, Dr. Dhammika Herath,
Acadamic, Peace and Development Research, School of Global Studies, Emil van
der Poorten, Ethayarani Chiraveil, Fahad Farook, Faizun Zackariya, Fr. Jeyabalan Croos, Fr.
Sebamalai, Fr. Terrence Fernando, Freddy
Gamage, Gamini Akmeemana, Gamini Viyangoda – Journalist, Gehan Gunatilleke - Attorney-at-Law, Hanna
Ibraham – Journalist, Harean Hettiarachchi, Harini
Amarasuriya, Inoja Munasinghe, Member of
Urban Council , Iromi Perera, J . C Weliamuna – Attorney-at-Law, Jehanki
Anandha, Jensila Majeed ,Juwairiya Mohideen, Kandiah Rajaledsumi – Batticaloa,
Krishna Velupillai, Kshama Ranawana, Lakmali
Hemachandra, Lakshman Gunasekara, Journalist , Leela
Issac, Lionel Bopage, M. D.
Mahindapala (Cinematographer), M.A. Sumanthiran, MP
– Tamil National Alliance & Attorney-at-Law, Mahendran Thiruvarangan, Mahesh Munasingha (A poet in Canada), Malathi de Alwis, Mano
Alles , Mario Gomez, Marisa de
Silva, Marisa Fernando, Melani
Manel Perera, Miyuru Gunasinghe, Nakaka Disanayaka,
Neloufer de Mel, Nilshan Fonseka, Nirmal Ranjith
Devasiri, Nirmanusan Balasundaram,
Oma K. Chunchi, Pathmeranjin-Social worker,Philip
Diassanaike , Philip Setunga, Prashanthi Jayasekara, Prashanthi Mahindaratne, Prema
Gamage, Priya Thangarajah,
Priyanthi Fernando, Prof. Kumar David, R.M.B Senanayake, Rajani Chandra, Ranukathavi- Social worker, Rasika Deepani, Ruki
Fernando, Sachini Perera, Safeeka - women’s network
coordinator, Samanmalie Hettiarchchi,Sampath
Pushpakumara – Attorney-at-Law, Samsath Begam-women’s
network Coordinator, Sanjana Hattotuwa,
Sarala Emmanuel, Satha - Social worker, Seetha
Ranjanee, Journalist, Shalini Wickramasuriya, Siritunga Jayasuriya - United
Socialist Party, Sr. Deepa Fernando, Stella Phillip, Stephanie Gonawela, Subha Wijesiriwardena, Sudarhsna Gunawardhana, Attorney –at-Law, Sulochana
Colombage, Sunanda Deshapriya,
Sunethra Bandaranaike, Sunil
Wijesiriwrdene,
Tamara de Silva, Tehani Ariyaratne, Thiruni Kelegama,
Thushari Madahapola, Udeni Thewarapperuma,
Attorney –at-Law , Uma Rajamantri, Vanamali
Galappatti, Vanni Simon, Velayudan
Jayachithra, Velusamy Weerasingham, Violet Perera, Visakha
Tillekeratne, W. Jayasiri, Wasaam Ismail,
Yasasmin Kaviratne, Sis. Angela, Sis. Christeen, Audrey Rubera, Padma Wakwella,
Scolastica
33 Organizations: Affected
Women’s Forum (Akkaraipattu), Centre for People’s Dialogue, Centre for Policy
Alternative, Community Education Center, Malabe, Dabindu Collective,
Katunayaka, Eastern Social Development Foundation, Eastern
United Women’s Organization, Family Organization
for the Disappeared, Free Media Movement, Govi Thorathuru Centre, Human
Development Centre, Kandy, INFORM Human Rights Documentation Centre , International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES),
International Movement against All forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR) ,
Janaawabodaya (Negambo), Mannar Women's Development Federation , Mothers and
Daughters of Lanka, Mullaitheevu Women’s Development and Rehabilitation
Federation, Muslim Women’s Development Trust (Puttalum), Muslim Women's
Research and Action Forum, National
Fisheries Solidarity Movement, National Peace Council, Peoples Centre for
Dialogue, Right to Life, Rights Now
Collective for Democracy, Shama Shakthi Savidanaya , Sri Lanka Women’s NGO
Forum, Voluntary Service Development Organisation for Women (Trincomalee), Women Action for Independent Development - WOMENAID network, Women and Media Collective (WMC) , Women’s
Development Centre( Badulla), Women Education and Research Center, Women's
Action Network, Women's Centre, Ja-Ela,Women's Political Academy Sri Lanka.
