Politics · Sri Lanka Bureau
UN Women urges deeper commitment to boost female political representation in Sri Lanka
A new UN Women report examining Sri Lanka's local government gender quota has called for strengthened measures to advance women's political leadership. The findings were presented at a high-level forum bringing together government officials, politicians, women leaders and development partners.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
UN Women released its "Beyond Numbers" report on Tuesday, analysing the impact and outcomes of Sri Lanka's 25 percent female quota in local government bodies. The study represents a comprehensive examination of how the quota mechanism has functioned and what lessons can be drawn to enhance women's political participation across the country.
The report launch convened key stakeholders including government representatives, political party leaders, women elected officials, civil society organisations and international development partners. Participants engaged in substantive discussions on the current state of women's political participation and explored pathways to strengthen female leadership in governance structures.
The "Beyond Numbers" assessment comes at a critical juncture for Sri Lanka's democratic institutions, as policymakers consider measures to deepen women's involvement in decision-making processes. The report's findings are expected to inform policy discussions and guide efforts to build on progress achieved through the existing quota framework.
UN Women's engagement reflects broader international commitments to gender equality in political representation. The forum provided a platform for diverse voices to contribute perspectives on barriers women face in politics and opportunities to accelerate advancement within Sri Lanka's governance systems.