Sri Lanka Women MPs Seek Standing Order Amendments to Curb Harassment 🏛️

The Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus has submitted a formal proposal to Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne to amend the Standing Orders of Parliament. The move aims to implement stricter disciplinary measures against verbal abuse and insults targeting female legislators. • Legislative Representation: The current Parliament features the highest ever female representation with 21 out of 225 MPs (9.3%). Despite this milestone, lawmakers report an increase in gender-based verbal harassment. • Proposed Reforms: The Caucus seeks to amend the "Discipline in Parliament" section to prevent conduct that curtails the right of women to participate in politics and express views freely. • Institutional Setbacks: The push for better safety coincides with the resignation of Dr. Ramani Jayasundere, Chairperson of the National Women’s Commission (NWC). Her departure was attributed to: • Administrative interference compromising autonomy. • Lack of a dedicated budget and independent premises. • Absence of recruited staff and operational capacity. • Social Context: Advocates highlight that parliamentary harassment mirrors broader challenges for women in the workforce, citing recent safety concerns for women in the transport sector (bus conductors). Based on provisional reports from the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus and the NWC.