Sri Lankan civil society condemn Muslim MPs’ attempt to derail MMDA reforms

Say Muslim women’s rights must be protected by the State

Statements
By Editor_1
-mdwlive.net

COLOMBO – Over 150 individuals including academics, activists and professionals and 45 organizations have endorsed a civil society statement condemning efforts by Muslim Members of Parliament to block crucial reforms proposed to the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA).

The statement issued on Wednesday (26), notes the MPs’ recommendations ignore the decades of overwhelming evidence of discrimination and suffering of Muslim women and girls and warns the move will deny justice, equality and dignity for Muslim women and girls in Sri Lanka.  It calls on the Muslim MPs to examine their commitment to the wellbeing of Sri Lankan Muslim communities coping with contemporary economic and social challenges and reconsider their endorsements.

The statement in full:

We condemn the demands made by the Muslim Members of Parliament (MPs), in a letter dated June 8 2023 to the Minister of Justice, seeking to block crucial reforms proposed to the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) of Sri Lanka. The letter signed by 17 Muslim MPs endorse discriminatory and harmful practices for which Muslim women have long sought redress.

The MPs recommendations ignore the decades of overwhelming evidence of discrimination and suffering of Muslim women and girls. They will deny justice, equality and dignity for Muslim women and girls in Sri Lanka. The recommendations exclude Muslim women and girls from constitutionally guaranteed rights enjoyed by all other Sri Lankan citizens. The positions also categorically detract from Sri Lanka’s international human rights obligations including under CEDAW. The CEDAW Committee has in Concluding Observations previously, and again in 2017, recommended that the Sri Lankan government amend all personal laws, including the MMDA, as a priority ‘Follow-Up Issue’.

We stand firmly with Muslim women and all those supporting progressive MMDA reforms. As civil society, we support women’s voices in governance and lawmaking, and the securing of constitutional equality, equal protection of the law and access to justice. We have always stood for the rights of all women in Sri Lanka. When these rights are denied to some women it is denied to all women in this country. When these rights are denied to some citizens of this country it is denied to all of us.

We call on the Minister of Justice and all elected Members of Parliament to uphold the constitutional guarantees of equality and non-discrimination that are due to Muslim women citizens of Sri Lanka.

We call on the Muslim Members of Parliament endorsing the highly problematic recommendations to examine their commitment to the wellbeing of Sri Lankan Muslim communities coping with contemporary economic and social challenges and reconsider their endorsements.

We call on our fellow citizens to extend their support and solidarity to Muslim women and follow their lead in advocating for progressive reforms and positive social change in Sri Lanka. Our solidarity stems from the common goal of securing the wellbeing and dignity of all Sri Lankans, and in this instance for Muslim families and communities.

Endorsed by:

Individuals

  1. Emeritus Professor Savitri Goonesekere, University of Colombo and former member of UN CEDAW Committee
  2. Dr. Radhika Coomaraswamy UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women (1994- 2003), UN Under Secretary General Children and Armed Conflict (2006-2012) and Chair National Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (2003-2006)
  3. Prof. M. Sitralega, former Professor, Eastern University Sri Lanka, member Consultation Task Force for Reconciliation Mechanisms (2016-2019)
  4. Ambika Satkunanathan, Commissioner, National Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (2015-2020)
  5. Dr. Natasha Balendra, former Chairperson, National Child Protection Authority Sri Lanka
  6. Manel Jayamanna, former Executive Director of the National Committee on Women
  7. Savithri Wijesekera, former Commissioner, National Police Commission
  8. Prof. Camena Guneratne
  9. Prof. Chandraguptha Thenuwara
  10. Prof. Gameela Samarasinghe
  11. Prof. Jayadeva Uyangoda
  12. Prof. S Jeyasankar
  13. Prof. Sumathy Sivamohan
  14. Dr. Chulani Kodikara
  15. Dr. Dinushika Dissanayake
  16. Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathne
  17. Dr. Mario Gomez
  18. Dr. Margaret Kuruppu
  19. Dr. Jehan Perera
  20. Dr. Nimalka Fernando
  21. Dr. Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu
  22. Dr. Prabha Manuratne
  23. Dr. Pradeep Peiris
  24. Dr. Sakuntala Kadirgamar
  25. Dr. Sepali Kottegoda
  26. Dr. Selvy Thiruchandran
  27. Dr. Shermal Wijewardene
  28. Dr. Sonali Deraniyagala
  29. Rev. Sr. Noel Christine Fernando
  30. Rev. Sr. Rasika Pieris
  31. Rev P. Rajan Rohaan
  32. A. Ajitha
  33. Akshay Senanayake
  34. Anithra Varia
  35. Annie Kurian
  36. Anushaya Collure
  37. Anushka Opatha
  38. Anuratha Rajaretnam
  39. Aritha Wickramasinghe
  40. Ashila Dandeniya
  41. B.Gowthaman
  42. Balasingham Skanthakumar
  43. Bhavani Fonseka
  44. Bisliya Bhuto
  45. Brito Fernando
  46. C. Ranitha Gnanarajah
  47. Cayathri Divyakalala
  48. Chamila Thushari
  49. Chandra Devanarayana
  50. Channaka Jayasinghe
  51. Deekshya Illangasinghe
  52. Dharshani Abeykoon
  53. Enoka S Loganathan
  54. Ephraim Shadrach
  55. Evangeline de Silva
  56. G. Sivarajvalavan
  57. G.Ushananthini
  58. Geetha Lakmini Fernando
  59. Harry Fernando
  60. Herman Kumara
  61. Iromi Perera
  62. J. Thayalini
  63. J. Varayalini
  64. Jayani Abeysekara
  65. Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala
  66. K. Ajith Hadley Perera
  67. K N Abeygunawardana
  68. K. Hemalatha
  69. K. Nihal Ahamed
  70. K. Saththiyaseelan
  71. Kalani Subasinghe
  72. Kalavathy Kalaimakal
  73. Kamala Vasuki
  74. Kumudini Samuel
  75. Lavina Hasanthi Perera
  76. M. Nirmalathevi
  77. Mahaluxmy Kurushanthan
  78. Marisa de Silva
  79. Marisa Fernando
  80. Menasha Samaradiwakara
  81. Michael. R. Joachim
  82. Mirak Raheem
  83. N. Arththigan
  84. N. Sumathy
  85. Nelun Chrisanthi Gunasekera
  86. Niroshinin Mahendran
  87. Paba Deshapriya, Bakamoono.lk
  88. Padma Pushpakanthi
  89. Padmini Weerasuriya
  90. Peter Rezel, Chartered Accountant
  91. Philip Dissanayake
  92. Priscilla George
  93. Priyalal Sirisena
  94. Priyanthi Fernando
  95. Queen Juliyat
  96. R. Kounthini
  97. R. Saththiya
  98. R. Sulaxhana
  99. Rajany Rajeshwary
  100. Ramani Jayasundere
  101. Rasika Deepani
  102. Rohini Hensman
  103. Ruki Fernando
  104. Ruwani Rubasinghe
  105. S. Annalaksumi
  106. S. Easwaray
  107. S. Ethayarani
  108. S. Ginogini
  109. S. Kopika
  110. S. Mariyarosalin
  111. S. Niththika
  112. S. Prabaharan
  113. S. Suganthini
  114. S. Tharsan
  115. S. Thileepan
  116. S. Sumithra
  117. S. Vanie
  118. Saroja Sivachandran
  119. Sachini Perera
  120. Safiya Riyaz
  121. Sarala Emmanuel
  122. Shelani Palihawadana
  123. Shiranee Mills
  124. Shreen Saroor
  125. Shyamala Gomez
  126. Sinthusha Vijendran
  127. Sonali Gunasekera
  128. Stella Philips
  129. Subathra Yogasingham
  130. Sudeepa Gunaratne
  131. Sudesh Mantillake
  132. Sulochana Peiris
  133. Sumika Perera
  134. Swasthika Arulingam
  135. Taariq Jurangpathy
  136. Thahira Cader
  137. Thamalini Surendran
  138. Tharanga de Silva
  139. Thiagi Piyadasa
  140. Thiyagaraja Waradas
  141. Udaya Kalupathirana
  142. Udeni Thewarpperuma
  143. V.Inthirani
  144. V. Ravinthiran
  145. V. Shamini
  146. V. Sinthuka
  147. Vanamali Kaushalya
  148. Vasuki Rajasingham
  149. Vanie Simon
  150. Violet Perera
  151. Visakha Tillekeratne
  152. Zahid Aman

Organizations

  1. Affected Women’s Forum
  2. Association Of Women With Disabilities
  3. Center for Policy Alternatives
  4. Centre for Equality and Justice
  5. Centre for Social Concerns
  6. Community Welfare and Development Fund
  7. Dabindu Collective
  8. Eastern Self Reliant Community Awakening Organization
  9. Environmental Developmental Foundation
  10. Families of the Disappeared
  11. Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka
  12. Gender and Election Working Group
  13. Human Elevation Organization
  14. iProbono
  15. INFORM Human Rights Documentation Centre
  16. International Centre for Ethnic Studies
  17. Law and Society Trust
  18. Mannar Women’s Development Federation
  19. Mihithala Mithuro
  20. Mothers and Daughters of Lanka
  21. National Fisheries Solidarity Movement
  22. National Peace Council
  23. Plantation Rural Education and Development Organization
  24. Progressive Women’s Collective
  25. RED Organization
  26. Right to Life Human Rights Center
  27. Rule of Law Forum
  28. Samathai Feminists Collective
  29. Savisthri National Women’s Movement
  30. Shramabimani Kendraya
  31. Social Scientists’ Association
  32. StandUp Movement Lanka
  33. Suriya Women’s Development Center
  34. Third Eye Local Knowledge and Activists group
  35. United Mind
  36. Vallamai-movement for social change
  37. Voice of Migrants Network
  38. We women Lanka Network
  39. Women’s Action for Social Justice
  40. Women and Media Collective
  41. Women’s Centre Sri Lanka
  42. Women’s Education and Research Center
  43. Women’s Political Academy
  44. Women’s Action Network
  45. Youth Advocacy Network

 

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