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“Lewd, and suggestive comments in House”
Parliamentary Women’s Caucus to counter hate speech
The Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus is determined to initiate a policy dialogue in order to formulate strategies to identify, address and counter hate speech in Sri Lanka, its chairperson, MP Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle said.
In a statement issued to mark the inaugural International Day for Countering Hate Speech on June 18, Dr Fernandopulle said that there were ample examples attesting to the fact that lewd, suggestive and violative comments are often directed at Caucus members by their male counterparts in parliament – the very place where laws are formulated to govern the country.
“On June 18 this year we celebrate the inaugural International Day for Countering Hate Speech. Recognizing the global rise and concern over hate speech, last year in the month of July, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on “promoting inter-religious and intercultural dialogue and tolerance in countering hate speech”. The resolution proclaimed June 18 as the International Day for Countering Hate Speech.
“Today marks a milestone in the global initiative to counter discrimination, xenophobia and hate speech as for the first time, upon celebrating this day, we are reminded of the need to increase our efforts to address the unprecedented proliferation of hate speech which undermines the respect for human dignity, equality, and peace.
Remarkably, the need and responsibility to counter hate speech lies not merely on the State but a multitude of actors including the private sector, the media and internet corporations, community leaders, civil society actors or simply on individuals.
This is particularly so, due to the fact that in the wake of social media, providing a platform for anyone who has access to the internet to raise their voice, a moral duty is cast on every human being to be aware of and take active steps to counter hate speech.
Thus, it is not an abstract initiative but one that is very relevant to everyone in society as anyone could be a target of hate speech, especially in today’s online-driven world. As simply expressed by the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres in 2021, “Hatred is a danger to everyone – and so fighting it must be a job for everyone.”
“This day is of particular importance to women and other vulnerable communities, as they are often the target of hate speech. Being female politicians who are engaged in a vastly male-dominated sector, this day is of special importance to the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus and we feel a sense of urgency and responsibility in our role in the global initiative to counter hate speech.
“In November 2021, I took the initiative to write on behalf of the Women’s Caucus to the Speaker of Parliament urging him to take steps preventing verbal harassment of female Members of Parliament by our male colleagues who constitute the vast majority in Parliament.
“We are determined to initiate a policy dialogue in Sri Lanka in order to formulate strategies to identify, address and counter hate speech. A starting point in fulfilling our role in countering hate speech would be to first understand hate speech and its impact, and thereafter, devise mechanisms to identify, combat and counter hate speech”, said Dr. Fernandopulle.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
