The Cargills International Women’s Day Festival – The Change Makers, presented by Table by Taru and Kaleidoscope with Savithri Rodrigo and partnered by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), kicked off on Monday, 1 March. The event is set to highlight the importance of the full involvement and equal participation of women promoting peace and security.
Designed to celebrate women who are championing change, as well as thought leaders who prompt dialogue through their work, impacts, and actions, the festival upholds women’s ability to transform, adapt, and be the change, while also stimulating debate, building knowledge, expanding networks of champions, and advocating gender equality.
The first of a series of discussions was held on Monday (1) at Table by Taru with guest speakers author and researcher in peacebuilding and reconciliation Sarah Kabir; writer, researcher, and activist Amalini De Sayrah, and National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri-Lanka (NCEASL) Director for Legal and Advocacy Yamini Ravindran.
Speaking at the event, Savithri Rodrigo commented: “We all know that women are disproportionately impacted due to conflict and, more than ever, to a war to various insurgencies and rights, but very little has changed when it comes to giving women a bigger voice, a bigger presence when it comes to peace and security and reconciliation.”
She emphasised that women are central to peace and security decisions, even though their roles as agents of change have largely remained unrecognised. But a very few women have navigated language barriers and racial, ethnic, religious, and cultural demarcations beyond the gender dimensions to facilitate a more proactive engagement.
The theme for the evening, “The Peace Prompters”, featured women activists who have been fighting to advance peace, reconciliation, and nation building. Savithri added: “Kaleidoscope has highlighted achievers, pioneers, disruptors, peace builders, and entrepreneurs, placing the spotlight primarily on women, as the focus on women’s achievements, determination, and commitment to instigate change is rarely spotlighted in the media. In this collaboration with Taru, Cargills, and our partners coming in to support us, we are augmenting our focus on that singular mission of showcasing the important roles women have played and continue to play in this country.”
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From left: Writer, researcher, and activist Amalini De Sayrah; NCEASL Director for Legal and Advocacy Yamini Ravindran; author and researcher in peacebuilding and reconciliation Sarah Kabir; and moderator Savithri Rodrigo at the Cargills International Women’s Day Festival – The Changemakers[/caption]
I want to make a change despite the dangers: Sarah Kabir
Speaking on how she was introduced to the conflict in Sri Lanka during the war, Sarah Kabir stated: “I joined quite late in the conflict. It was when I heard the war was over – I was actually overseas doing my undergraduate at the time. And then, all these questions came in my head about who was involved and what had happened.”
She explained that as all those questions came into her head, she felt annoyed at her privilege for not having the answers as she was safe in another country, without having to experience any of the conflict. “I realised that there was a way to use that privilege to do something that had an impact, so I found my voice and used it to make an impact in this country with my book.”
Sarah commented that at the time, she was quite young, adding that she is still young and idealistic, but she didn't take the dangers of making her voice heard into account. All that mattered was making an impact for the betterment of the country. Telling her story, she explained: “Once I came back to Sri Lanka, I realised that the use of certain words is dangerous. For example, the word ‘reconciliation’ still can’t be used without evoking a dispute.”
I am thankful for my privilege: Yamini Ravindran
Yamini Ravindran noted that her journey was quite different because she was initially involved in corporate and commercial law. “I wanted to be involved in human rights. I didn't think about peace and reconciliation, but fortunately my faith led me to believe in justice and peace so I was able to get in touch with organisations like NCEASL which was very much involved in work of social transformation, and freedom of religion or belief.”
She added that as much as this work is dangerous and has its pressures and challenges, the kind of change that we can bring about as individuals, not only in our communities and in our societies, but also in other individuals’ lives as well. She commented that this change may be insignificant to us, but is a big change in others’ lives.
Recalling one of the first legal issues she had to handle, Yamini said: “I was a little six-year-old schoolgirl who was deprived from following her religious faith in her school. It was a simple letter that I sent as a lawyer to keep up with the school administration that was the solution.” She added that she is thankful that she had the privilege to be able to study her religion and follow her traditions without being punished for it, which not a lot of people during the conflict had the chance to say.
I want to create awareness for women: Amalini De Sayrah
Amalini De Sayrah stated: “When people ask me ‘why do you do the awareness and advocacy you do’, I tell them it's because these issues really make me angry or passionate and I want to make a change. I'm just amplifying it, passing it on hoping that someone else will feel the same way, and pick it up in the same way.”
She said that for her, it was a succession of learning about struggles various communities face and how prolonged these have been – struggles that have been going on for 20 or 30 years. “Just wanting to maybe move the needle even in terms of just the conversation, creating the smallest amount of awareness, is my goal,” she added.
Amalini also observed that women are also facing a lot of challenges at the ground level. “If you take digital literacy in Sri Lanka, according to Sri Lankan statistics in 2019, women have only 28% of digital literacy, which is a massive challenge in today's context and world.”
She added that we also have to see how women have always had to fight harder in everything that they do, and fight to have access to resources or power. She also noted that at a community level or a higher policy level, women will be able to be effective if they are given that space.
PHOTOS ESHAN DASANAYAKA
From left: Writer, researcher, and activist Amalini De Sayrah; NCEASL Director for Legal and Advocacy Yamini Ravindran; author and researcher in peacebuilding and reconciliation Sarah Kabir; and moderator Savithri Rodrigo at the Cargills International Women’s Day Festival – The Changemakers[/caption]
I want to make a change despite the dangers: Sarah Kabir
Speaking on how she was introduced to the conflict in Sri Lanka during the war, Sarah Kabir stated: “I joined quite late in the conflict. It was when I heard the war was over – I was actually overseas doing my undergraduate at the time. And then, all these questions came in my head about who was involved and what had happened.”
She explained that as all those questions came into her head, she felt annoyed at her privilege for not having the answers as she was safe in another country, without having to experience any of the conflict. “I realised that there was a way to use that privilege to do something that had an impact, so I found my voice and used it to make an impact in this country with my book.”
Sarah commented that at the time, she was quite young, adding that she is still young and idealistic, but she didn't take the dangers of making her voice heard into account. All that mattered was making an impact for the betterment of the country. Telling her story, she explained: “Once I came back to Sri Lanka, I realised that the use of certain words is dangerous. For example, the word ‘reconciliation’ still can’t be used without evoking a dispute.”
I am thankful for my privilege: Yamini Ravindran
Yamini Ravindran noted that her journey was quite different because she was initially involved in corporate and commercial law. “I wanted to be involved in human rights. I didn't think about peace and reconciliation, but fortunately my faith led me to believe in justice and peace so I was able to get in touch with organisations like NCEASL which was very much involved in work of social transformation, and freedom of religion or belief.”
She added that as much as this work is dangerous and has its pressures and challenges, the kind of change that we can bring about as individuals, not only in our communities and in our societies, but also in other individuals’ lives as well. She commented that this change may be insignificant to us, but is a big change in others’ lives.
Recalling one of the first legal issues she had to handle, Yamini said: “I was a little six-year-old schoolgirl who was deprived from following her religious faith in her school. It was a simple letter that I sent as a lawyer to keep up with the school administration that was the solution.” She added that she is thankful that she had the privilege to be able to study her religion and follow her traditions without being punished for it, which not a lot of people during the conflict had the chance to say.
I want to create awareness for women: Amalini De Sayrah
Amalini De Sayrah stated: “When people ask me ‘why do you do the awareness and advocacy you do’, I tell them it's because these issues really make me angry or passionate and I want to make a change. I'm just amplifying it, passing it on hoping that someone else will feel the same way, and pick it up in the same way.”
She said that for her, it was a succession of learning about struggles various communities face and how prolonged these have been – struggles that have been going on for 20 or 30 years. “Just wanting to maybe move the needle even in terms of just the conversation, creating the smallest amount of awareness, is my goal,” she added.
Amalini also observed that women are also facing a lot of challenges at the ground level. “If you take digital literacy in Sri Lanka, according to Sri Lankan statistics in 2019, women have only 28% of digital literacy, which is a massive challenge in today's context and world.”
She added that we also have to see how women have always had to fight harder in everything that they do, and fight to have access to resources or power. She also noted that at a community level or a higher policy level, women will be able to be effective if they are given that space.
PHOTOS ESHAN DASANAYAKA