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Toll-free women’s 24/7 helpline enhanced

01 Nov 2021

 By Pamodi Waravita The State Ministry of Women and Child Development, Preschools and Primary Education, School Infrastructure, and Education Services has launched a “technically-strengthened” 1938 toll-free women’s 24/7 helpline last Friday (29 October).  “The 1938 helpline initially worked only eight hours per day. With the onset of the pandemic last year, we made it a 24/7 service. Last week, we strengthened this service using new software so that the service is more accessible for a larger number of people,” National Committee on Women Executive Director M. Jayamanna told The Morning yesterday (31 October).  Last year, Jayamanna said that the number of complaints received by the helpline significantly increased following the Covid-19-related lockdowns.  The helpline had received a staggering 450 complaints in April 2020, the first month after the Government implemented the first lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The following month saw 374 cases, while the months following the second lockdown saw 343 and 294 complaints in October and November 2020 respectively.  The 1938 hotline was established by the National Committee on Women to receive complaints regarding all forms of discrimination against women, where referrals to legal, counselling, and shelter facilities are made based on the needs of the complaint.


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