Asia pacific civil society forum on sustainable development includes persons with disabilities

The Asia-Pacific Civil Society Forum on Sustainable Development (CSO Forum) was organized by UNESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for the Asia and Pacific)
And UNEP in collaboration with Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) and other civil society partners at Nouvo City Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand and the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) at the United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok, Thailand in april 2016.
Ms. Manique Gunaratne from The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon Network on Disability and from the South Asian Disability Forum participated at this event representing women with disabilities. Women with disabilities from Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indunisia and Sri Lanka participated at this forum.
ON behalf of the civil society networks and on behalf of the Disability Constituency we persons with disabilities would like to thank ESCAP and member states for inclusion of civil society in this meeting. We hope the inputs of CSO will be considered and adopted as your priorities in implementing SDGs.
As you rightly focus on issues of inequality, it is critical to remember that persons with disabilities (10 -15% of the total population) amongst the most likely to live in poverty, to be denied development rights, their right to makes choices over their bodies, to achieve justice and remedies when experiencing gender based violence, to enjoy education, meaningful and decent work, to control resources and to participate in public life.
Government policies that privatize public services, reduce the commons and value economic growth over human rights have a devastating impact on persons with disabilities particularly women with disabilities.
SDG itself lacks of inclusive language and essence. Nor the specific goals or priority action areas are phrased in a way that would embrace an inclusive society that leaves no one behind. Unfortunately, persons with disabilities like us continue to be left behind.
We believe it is important to rely on already existing tools and commitments, which can support national planning/implementation with reference to Development Justice in national and regional level. This will surely pose challenges particularly with regards to some specific indicators. But LGBTI, Older Persons, Youth, Women, Dalits, Migrant Workers, Women in Politics and Persons with disabilities strongly believe that is the only way to gets the measures done.
We are standing ready to provide you with our experiences. We encourage all governments to adopt the principles of Development Justice as they advance their work through ESCAP as well as at national, international and global levels.

Picture descriptions:
1 Presenting the APWWDU statement in session 3.

2 Day 1 at the conference Manique with the participants.

3 Day 1 Manique at the conference.

4 Day 1 Manique at the conference.

5 Day 1 Manique at the conference hall.

6 Day 1 women with disabilities.

7 Day 1 women with disabilities.

8 Day 2 with all the participants.

9 day 2 participants.

10 Day 3group photograph.
11 Day 3 group photograph of women with disabilities.

12 Day 3 meeting of women with disabilities.

13 Day 3 at the meeting.

14 Strategic planning meeting of APWWDU.

Manique Gunaratne
Face time: 0094779571918

World vision sri lanka includes women with disabilities on international women’s day

World Vision Sri Lanka celebrated International Women’s Day at their Colombo Office with their staff members in March 2016. The key area they highlighted was women with disabilities. Western Province Director of Social Services spoke on Government Prospect of Persons with disabilities. Ms. ManiqueGunaratne of The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon Network on Disability did a presentation on “Discrimination faced by women with disabilities and water and sanitation for women with disabilities”. The World Vision team was committed to take this forward to the grassroots level.

Picture descriptions:

1 Manique at the head table.

2 Manique making the presentation with screen.

3 Manique making the presentation.

4 Manique with the audience.

ManiqueGunaratne

Face Book – ManiqueGunaratne

Women with disabilities in monaragala district get the opportunity to celebrate international women’s day

Hundreds of women with disabilities walked from Monaragala bus stand to the Library auditorium holding boards with rights of women with disabilities. Sri Lanka Foundation of the Rehabilitation of the Disabled organised the International Women’s Day in Monaragala. DHR Organisation in Sweden funded for this project. Delegates from Sweden, members of SLFRD, Provincial Council Ministers, Government Officials, District Secretary, men and women with disabilities and Deputy Minister Sumedha G. Jayasena participated for this event. The walk was from Monaragala bus stand to the Public Library auditorium in Monaragala. There after the gathering was held.

Welcome and objective of the Symposium was done by Secretary, Wellassaa Organization. Mrs. D. A. Padmakulasooriya, District Secretary, Monaragala spoke on Women with Disabilities and the Responsibility of the State.Ms. SwwarnaMalkanthi from Wellassa organization shared her Experience of being a Woman with a Disability. The key note address on Disability and Society was done by Ms. Manique Gunaratne (Vice President, South Asian Disability Forum, SLFRD and The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon Network on Disability).  Leading women with disabilities in Monaragala district was recognised and awarded certificates on this day.

Empowering Women with Disabilities and the Role of the Provincial Ministry was done by Hon. Kumarasiri Rathnayake – Provincial Minister, Social Services & Women Affairs. The Monaragala declaration of women with disabilities was handed over to the Provincial Council Minister. Deputy Minister, Ms. Sumedha G. Jayasena also addressed the gathering. Mr. Tikiri Kumara Jayawardena fromWellassa Organization moderated the panel discussion. The following panelists spoke on different topics. Evolution of Women Development & Women Rights in Sri Lanka was by Mrs. U. D. N. Seelawathie – UvaWellassa Women Farmers Organization. Swedish Experience of Women with Disabilities was by Ms. Asa Kristina – Society without Borders’s (DHR) Sweden.Ms. KanchanaPradeepa De Silvafrom the Disability Organization Joint front and Secretary, Sri Lanka Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled spoke on Importance of Social Inclusion of Women with Disabilities. Exploitation of Girl Child & Women and the Role of Sri Lanka Police was delivered by IP Mrs. Chamila Priyadarshanee – Officer in Charge, Divisional Child & Women Bureau. Smiling faces of women with disabilities in Monaragala district showed their courage and how empowered they are to face challenges.

Picture descriptions:

1 Banner of the programme.

2 Key note speech by Manique.

3 Manique and Kanchana joined  the walk together with women with disabilities in Monaragala.

4 Manique in the audience.

5 Manique, Kanchana and Subhani.

6 Manique with Asa and Fedrik from Sweden at entrance of the auditorium.

7 Walk.

8 Happy bunch of ladies in the walk.

Manique Gunaratne

Disability organisations’ joint front celebrateD international women’s day with women with disabilities

The Disability Organisations’ Joint Front celebrated the International Women’s Day with women with disabilities in all corners of Sri Lanka at the YWCA hall. Delegates from DHR Organisation in Sweden, women with disabilities, Government officials representing the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Ministry of Social Services and other relevant authorities participated at this workshop. The resource persons were Dr. Ms. SepaliKottegoda from University of Colombo, Director of Department of Cultural Affairs, Ms. AnushaGokula Fernando and Ms. ManiqueGunaratne. At the end of the programme with the ideas of all women with disabilities who participated, a declaration was drafted and was handed over to the Minister of Women Affairs at the National Women’s Day celebrations held in Ampara.

Picture descriptions:

1 Manique as resource person.

2 Manique making presentation.

3 Manique with Sweeden delegates.

4 Participants.

ManiqueGunaratne

Web: www.employers.lk   www.bizdirectory.lk

Leadership Training and the South Asia Conference on the role of Women with Disabilities in Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals

Women Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) of Pakistan invited Ms. Manique Gunaratne of The employers’ Federation of Ceylon Network on Disability, to attend the Leadership Training and the South Asia Conference on the role of Women with Disabilities in Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in January 2016 in Pakistan. The event was held at Hotel Magala in Islamabad, Pakistan.
The Leadership Training and the South Asia Conference on the role of Women with Disabilities in Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals under the South Asian Disability Forum (SADF)’s project South Asia Disability and Development Initiative (SADDI) was organized in collaboration with Women Parliamentary Caucus (WPC), British Council Pakistan, CBM, Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP), Women Refugee Commission (WRC), Aurat Foundation (AF), National Forum of Women with Disabilities (NFWWD). The Leadership Training aimed to empower Women with Disabilities and build their capacities as Leaders and to strengthen our work regionally and nationally for inclusive Development.
Women with disabilities from Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Korea and Pakistan participated at this programme.
On the final day there was a conference with representatives of parliamentarians, high level government officials, media, representatives from the organisations of persons with disabilities and NGO’s.
Ms. Manique Gunaratne was interviewed by several media channels.

Picture descriptions:
1 Manique addressing the conference.

2 Manique at the workshop.
3 group photograph at the closing ceremony of the conference.
4 Participants at the conference.
5 Group photograph of the opening ceremony of the conference.
6 Panel discussion at the conference.
7 group photograph of the workshop participants with the certificates.

8 Group photograph of the opening ceremony of the workshop.
9 Manique with the certificate.
10 manique receiving the certificate.
11 Day 1 of the workshop.
12 Group of participants at Day 3 of the workshop.
13 Manique at Day 3 of the workshop.
14 Day 3 of the workshop.
15 Day 2 of the workshop.

Manique Gunaratne
National Campaigner for Rights of Women with Disabilities – Raising Our Voices for Us

The Zonta woman of achievement awards ceremony is the flagship event of Colombo held every biennium since 1985. Zonta Club is committed to recognize and reward women who have achieved outstanding success in their respective fields and contributed towards national development. Zonta Club informed that they received nominations from across a wide range of disciplines and all regions of Sri Lanka. An independent panel of eminent judges selected the winners. The Zonta woman achiever of 2014 awards ceremony was held at Hotel Galadari. Attorney General, Mr. Palitha Fernando was the Chief Guest at this ceremony. In May 2014 Ms. Manique Gunaratne received the “Zonta Woman of Achievement 2014 award” in the field of disability.

One of the most unpleasant things about being a person with a disability has to deal with negative attitudes around you.

And it’s sad, but true, that it’s not uncommon that the people who look down at you because you are in a wheelchair or use a white cane to get around,

Are the very people who are supposed to help you and look after your interests?

Hospitals – especially government outfits – are, unfortunately, one of them.

People with disabilities are very much interested in trying to find out about their latest medical results.

They toss and turn in their beds with worry.

The first thing they unexpectedly receive is “greeted by” a rather plump, sour-faced, rude and grumpy face.

But what we do not like is being forced as a person with a disability is to take on the personal problems of the others.

Sometimes most places turn out to be places where more is done to ruin the “feel good factor” for you than to help you.

I have personal experience of numerous accounts from my friends with disabilities of horrible encounters with people with non-disabilities when they have to turn to them for help.

These include the frontline, the desk staff, higher-up officers and professional counselors in the society.

People with disabilities are treated with little respect and sometimes, no respect at all.

They can’t get assistance from the car park; no one is there to help those open heavy doors (which shouldn’t be there) in the department’s office.

Few would offer them a smile. Waiting to be attended to can take forever. Asking more than a couple of questions would be frowned upon.

Many of them are spoken to condescendingly, whilst others are literally not spoken to at all!

Some people turn their attention to their able-bodied helpers instead, assuming the real clients are unable to speak – or have little intelligence to

Respond.

I myself have come across frontline staff that was very impersonal with me, with their officious and detached tones.

Sometimes people dealing with us are so impersonal and snobbish that I was made to feel as if I should be “grateful” that they were even trying to help

Me in the first place.

As a trained person with a disability I, having served for over 15 years of well-known service in the disability field nationally and internationally, making a person feel

This way is the worst thing you can do to someone’s psyche when they come to you for assistance.

The question which really needs to be asked here is how well and properly trained people in the society are to help persons with disabilities.

Does each and every one of these able-bodied workers even realise that it is because of their clients that they have their jobs in the first place?

The good news, however, is all this now appears to be changing.

But whether this is happening only just in the urban the rural remains to be seen.

Several people with disabilities whom I have spoken to told me that now some people are more polite and genuinely caring towards them.

Many of us think these changes are coming about because of the advocacy and lobbying done in the disability field.

Department of Social Services organizes a social dialogue to discuss several areas of disability every month. This is a platform where persons with disabilities and persons with non-disabilities can take part to make justice for all. In March Ms. Manique Gunaratne did a presentation on “Enhancing ethics and etiquettes to promote social justice for children with special needs” at the Department of Social Services.

The month of March is a significant month for women as we celebrate the International Women’s Day. It is not only just for women but women with disabilities around the world celebrate the International Women’s Day. This year in order to bring inclusion to the society most Women’s Day celebrations were done together with women with disabilities and women with not yet with disabilities. The World Vision Lanka organized the International Women’s Day celebration at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. This year’s theme was “Calling for Greater Equality – Make it Happen”. 

The Key Note Address was by Prof Maithree Wickramasinghe on Importance of Gender   Mainstreaming in Organizations and Humanitarian field. The other speakers were Ms. Manique Guneratne from The employers’ Federation of Ceylon on How to include women with disability to mainstream development, Ms. Cyrene Siriwardhana – Significant legal lessons learnt of tackling violence against Women and Rev Lionel Peris – Religious perspective (all faiths) of empowering women.

World Vision Lanka launched the “Men Care” manual at this occasion. The men care programme implemented by World Vision Lanka is a great support for women in Sri Lanka especially women in the plantation sector.

The street drama on “Domestic violence” had a very great impact on the society. It clearly indicated the causes of domestic violence and who are responsible for it and how you could reduce domestic violence.

World Vision Lanka donated a laptop to The E.F.C. I.C.T. Training Centre for the benefit of all women with disabilities.

The Sunday Island newspaper published an article. Please read the article on:

http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=121796

The “Women in Management Genre of Excellence Professional and Career Women Awards” was held on 25 July 2014 at Hotel Taj. The Professional & Career Women Awards, which is an integral part of the Sri Lankan business calendar for the fourth consecutive year, celebrating the achievements of some truly remarkable women in the country. The awards recognize the achievements of women for their professional or entrepreneurial milestones and to those demonstrating outstanding leadership and managerial qualities in their respective fields, contributing significantly to society and the country’s development. The evening was glamorous, uplifting and inspiring. Guests got the chance to mingle with the stars, sit back and listen to music performed by inspirational artists and hear the stories of women who were being celebrated for a whole range of different reasons. This was a beautiful event and included a ‘red’ carpet and publicity photos. The event had great celebrity attendees and press coverage. The Chief Guest was Hon. Minister Basil Rajapakse Minister of Economic Development along with the Guest of Honour, High Commissioner Her Excellency Shelley Whiting – High Commission of Canada. Ms. Manique Gunaratne of The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon was awarded the “Most Inspirational Woman of the year on Special Skills for the exceptional Skills and Achievements as a Woman”.

She was the only award winner to receive a standing ovation by the audience.