"We see change when women raise their voices"
In early November, Ulrika Persson, Emma Fransson and Magdalena Abrahamsson from RFSU’s national office travelled to Sri Lanka to visit our partner organisations. Here they share impressions from the first days.
Day 1: Energy, change-power and collaboration against violence
The first day was spent with the organisation MWRAF, an organisation with a long and strong history of working for women’s rights. The day began with a review of MWRAF’s activities and their impressive production of sustainable, locally-manufactured sanitary pads. After that the team met university students who have been trained in gender and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
“Rarely have we seen so much energy in a room! These young people are truly the future’s SRHR-actors and change-makers,” says Ulrika Persson, Programme Manager for Sri Lanka at RFSU.
Later they visited a village where young men are involved in preventing sexual and gender-based violence. Through information and conversations at village level, they work to prevent domestic violence. The day ended at the hospital in Ampara, where the RFSU-group met a team of police officers, social workers, psychologists and nurses. All cooperating to strengthen support for women exposed to violence.
“It was so inspiring to see how collaboration among different professions actually improves women’s life situations. Our support truly makes a difference,” says Ulrika Persson.
Day 2: Women who build movements and strengthen each other
The next morning they headed off to eastern Sri Lanka to meet some of the women supported by MWRAF. The journey was along winding roads, with a beautiful mosque as landmark when the map didn’t quite suffice. The women participating in groups receive training in three important themes:
- Knowledge about the Muslim divorce law
- Supportive conversations (a kind of psychological first aid)
- Menstrual hygiene management
These themes equip the women with confidence, knowledge and community. In the women’s groups the togetherness serves as a safe space where participants can share their stories, draw strength and support one another.
“The conversations were both emotional and full of hope. The women spoke about how they now dare to stand up for themselves and for each other,” says Ulrika Persson.
Several of the women in turn train others in their local networks. They described proudly how their work is not a project – but an entire movement. Some had recently travelled to Colombo to testify before government ministers about the need for changed legislation, and delivered strong speeches about justice and equality.
An 82-year-old woman from MWRAF told, touched, how she sees change happening when women unite and raise their voices.
After two intense and emotional days awaited a seven-hour car drive back to Colombo. Ulrika Persson feels filled with hope and inspiration.
“It is days like these that remind us why we do this work. Change takes time, but it happens every time women are given space, support and the opportunity to organise,” she says.