Dutch Ambassador presents ‘Orange the World’ Banner to Foreign Minister

To mark the annual “Orange the World: 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” international campaign, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Colombo, Tanja Gonggrijp, handed over the “Orange the World” banner to Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris at the Foreign Ministry on Friday (26).

Accepting the banner, Minister Prof. G.L Peiris reiterated Sri Lanka’s commitment to combat Gender-Based Violence and briefed on initiatives taken by the Government of Sri Lanka in this area. He recognised that prevention and addressing sexual violence is an integral part of achieving Sustainable Goal 5 on Achieving Gender Equality and Empowering All Women and Girls. He remarked that the government’s national policy framework Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour has given priority to gender equality, empowerment of women and minimisation of gender-based violence.

The ‘Orange the World: 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence’ international campaign was initiated in 1991. Every year the event commences on Nov 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and ends on Dec 10, Human Rights Day.  The colour orange is meant to represent a brighter future and a world free from violence against women and girls.

According to the United Nations, globally, an estimated 736 million women—almost one in three—have been subjected to intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their lifetime. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the risk factors of violence against women.

State Minister of Women and Child Development Piyal Nishantha de Silva and Secretary to the State Ministry Kumari Jayasekara were also associated with the event.