President announces plans to pass Women-Empowering Bills in Parliament by June

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the government intends to present the Women’s Empowerment Bill and the Gender Equality Bill, (two pivotal instruments for enacting a national policy on gender parity and women’s empowerment) to parliament by June 2024.

Once ratified by parliament, it will make way for the establishment of a National Commission on Women and mechanisms to protect women’s rights and prevent violations thereof, including legal recourse.

The President  made these remarks during his keynote address at the unveiling of three “Anti-Violence Global Gestures”  hand prints against sexual violence targeting women and girls in public spaces, organized by DP Education at the Nelum Pokuna Theater in Colombo on Friday  (10).