In a major move to improve services for GBV survivors in Sri Lanka, 278 computers were formally given to the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs (MOWCA) to be given to Women Development Officers (WDOs) all around the nation, according to UNFPA.
The computers were given to Ms. Yamuna Perera, Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, by Kunle Adeniyi, UNFPA Representative in Sri Lanka.The Government of Japan generously provided funding to support this initiative, which was requested by the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and aims to support the creation of an extensive database on referral services for victims of violence.
“MOWCA receives computers from UNFPA Japan and Sri Lanka to improve GBV referral systems.”
Women Development Units will use the $260,000 worth of computers to update the new GBV referral services database on a regular basis. This database, which is scheduled to go live in the upcoming months, will contain important data like the names of service provider organisations, the kinds of services that are offered, and the district and divisional focal point contact information.
Women Development Officers (WDOs), Counselling Assistants, and Child Rights Promotion Officers affiliated with Women Development Units will have a platform to access up-to-date data and information on resources through this database, allowing them to promptly and accurately refer survivors to the right support services in their communities.In order to better address gender-based violence at the local and national levels, UNFPA Sri Lanka is working to improve coordination among WDOs, protection workers, social service providers, and law enforcement agencies. This includes the creation of the GBV referral services database.
It is anticipated that this database will greatly increase the efficiency and quickness of GBV interventions during times of crisis, promoting a more survivor-centered system of support for service delivery. The Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs and the People of Japan have our deepest gratitude for their ongoing cooperation and dedication to promoting gender equality and combating GBV in Sri Lanka.
