Review of Sri Lanka’s 9^th Periodic Report under the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) 90^th Session on 13^th  February 2025, Geneva

The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women which is also known as CEDAW is an international treaty for the rights of women which helps women in achieving Gender Equality of women around the world. Sri Lanka ratified the Convention in 1981. 

Countries that have ratified or acceded to the Convention are legally bound to put its provisions into practice.  They are also committed to submit national reports, at least every four years, on measures they have taken to comply with their treaty obligations. The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs is the lead line agency in drafting Sri Lanka’s Periodic reports under the CEDAW.

Accordingly, the State Party Report - Nineth periodic report (CEDAW/C/LKA/9) was submitted by Sri Lanka on 22 April 2022 and the responses to the List of Issues (LoIs) in relation to the 9th Periodic report of SL were submitted in 2023. The 90^th Session of CEDAW was conducted from 3^rd to 21^st February 2025 in Geneva.

The permanent Mission of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office in Geneva and the International Organizations in the Switzerland presented its complements to the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (Secretariat of the Committee on the Elimination of Discriminations against Women (CEDAW) and the following Delegation of Sri Lanka participated at the consideration of the 9^th Periodic report of Sri Lanka on 13^th February 2025 during the 90^th Session of the CEDAW Committee.

Delegation:

1.    Hon.(Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj  - Minister of Women and Child Affairs (Head of the Delegation)

2.     Mrs. K D R Olga - Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Affairs

3.     Mrs. Kumudu Perera - Legal Officer, Ministry of Women and Child Affairs

4.     Mrs. Kanishka De Silva Balapatabendi - Deputy Solicitor General, Attorney General’s Department

5.     Mrs. Renuka Jayasundara - Deputy Inspector General, Women & Child Bureau, Sri Lanka Police

6.     Mrs. Dilini Gunasekara - Director/ United Nations & Human Rights Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,Foreign Employment & Tourism