In Sri Lanka, one in five (20.4%) ever-partnered women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime, a study conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics revealed.
In analyzing women’s coping strategies when living with violence by a partner, the study found that nearly half (49.3%) of the women who experienced sexual violence by a partner did not seek formal help anywhere due to reasons such as shame, embarrassment and fear of being blamed or not being believed, and/or thinking the violence was normal or not serious enough to seek help.
In 2019, the Department of Census and
Statistics conducted the first dedicated national prevalence survey on violence
against women. Known as the Women’s Wellbeing Survey (WWS) it covered all 25
districts in Sri Lanka and interviewed more than 2,200 women aged 15 and above.
This Women’s Wellbeing Study was technically supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with financial assistance from the Government of Canada.
Violence by partners in any form can have a significant
impact on women’s health and wellbeing and is also interconnected with the
socio-economic recovery from crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, said UNFPA in a communique.
A series of consultative workshops are scheduled to be held with key government
stakeholders and other development partners over the next few months to better
inform decision-making to ensure no one is left behind, the press release further said.
To access the full report, please visit http://www.statistics.gov.lk/
