The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre train persons with diverse #disabilities in employability skills and place them in gainful employment. Coats Thread Exports PLC conducted job interviews for hearing impaired persons in March 2021 to employ persons with disabilities.
Mobility International USA (MIUSA) and the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre organized a programme on Mobilizing Women Leaders with #Disabilities for Inclusive Responses to Gender-Based Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Uva Province in January 2021. The programme was organized with the support of the Wellassa Organization for the Disabled in Monaragala district and was held at Little Rose Inn Hotel in Vallawaya.
The programme was organized to strengthen the inclusivity of community and government COVID responses to protect the fundamental freedoms of women and girls with disabilities. The objective was to Mobilize disabled women in leading efforts to promote inclusive gender-based violence (GBV) services and programming during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Introduction on “mobilizing women leaders with disabilities for “inclusive responses to gender-based violence during the Covid-19 pandemic” and “Briefing on what is GBV for women with disabilities during Covid-19 pandemic” were some of the areas covered at these training at the provincial level. The programme was conducted under the leadership of Ms. #Manique Gunaratne.
A Participant With A Physical Disability Speaking Partially Sighted Participant Speaking Hearing-impaired Participant Speaking Introducing Participants Conducting the Session Training MaterialsTraining MaterialsSession in ProgressSession in ProgressAwarding CertificatesAwarding CertificatesLighting Virtual Oil LampLighting Virtual Oil Lamp Introduction of the Programme With Sign Language Interpretation Introduction of the ProgrammeAwarding CertificatesAwarding CertificatesAwarding CertificatesConducting a Session with Sign Language Interpretation Conducting a SessionOnline Session in ProgressResource Person Connecting OnlineConducting a Session OnlineAwarding CertificatesAwarding CertificatesFeedback SessionParticipantsParticipantsAwarding CertificatesAwarding CertificatesGroup ActivityGroup ActivityGroup Photograph with Participants Holding Certificates Group Photograph of the ParticipantsStanding for the National Anthem
The University of Colombo conducted training on Disability Awareness and Sensitization under the Faculty of Arts – AHEAD grant and implemented in collaboration with the Centre for Disability Research Education and Practice (CEDREP) and the Staff Development Centre (SDC), the University of Colombo for the non-academic staff in December 2020. Ms. #Manique Gunaratne conducted the session on how to provide reasonable accommodation for under-graduate with #disabilities.
Mobility International USA (MIUSA) and the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre jointly organised the webinar on Mobilizing Women Leaders with #Disabilities for ‘Inclusive Responses to Gender-Based Violence During the COVID Pandemic’ in November 2020.
Community and government responses to the global
COVID-19 pandemic are further perpetuating domestic violence against women and
girls with disabilities by the exclusion of women and girls with disabilities
in decision-making processes, and denying women and girls with disabilities
access to timely and vital communication, information, services, and protection
measures.
This webinar was focused on the situation of women with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges they face, particularly on the issue of gender-based violence. Participants were encouraged to join this call to explore information on existing efforts and opportunities to work collaboratively to address this issue going forward.
The Guest Speaker was from the US Embassy – Mr Adam Smith. Project introduction was done by #Manique Gunaratne. common forms of GBV among persons with disabilities, Role of Mainstream Women Organisations and women with non-disabilities in Gender-Based Violence (GBV) for women with disability, Importance of Sexual and reproductive health concerning GBV, Protection and Support systems available for GBV, What is GBV and How does violence intersect with gender and disability? Were discussed.
Session on Sexual and Reproductive Health Manique Conducting the Session Presentation on Screen Session on Causes for GBV UNFPA Presentation Session on the Inclusion of Women with Disability into Mainstream Women OrganisationsMIUSA Conducting the Session
The Student Social Workers in the academic year 2017/18 at the National Institute of Social Development (NISD), following the Bachelor of Social Work Degree, organised a live discussion in December 2020, under the topic, “Towards an Inclusive Society with The Right-Based Approach in #Disability“. Additionally, the discussion was focusing on the importance of the right-based approach in different settings, the role of social workers and the society to make inclusion and the role of persons with disability to make a path for an inclusive society.
The guest speakers were; Ms #Manique Guneratne, Manager – Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre of the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Ms Niluka Gunawardena, an educator, examiner, advocator for disability rights and a visiting lecturer at the University of Colombo & Kelaniya and Mr Amila Adikaram, psychiatrist social worker and counsellor at the Teaching Hospital, Ratnapura.
Flyer of the WebinarParticipants on ScreenManique Presenting
The University of Colombo conducted training on Disability Awareness and Sensitization under the Faculty of Arts – AHEAD grant and implemented in collaboration with the Centre for Disability Research Education and Practice (CEDREP) and the Staff Development Centre (SDC), the University of Colombo for the academic staff in December 2020. Ms. #Manique Gunaratne conducted the session on how to provide reasonable accommodation for under-graduate with #Disabilities.
Manique PresentingManique with AudienceParticipantsParticipants
Manique Gunaratne, The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, 385 J3 Old Kotte Road, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka.
Ms. #Manique Gunaratne was a speaker at the virtual public event in the margins of the 13th Conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of People with #Disabilities (CoSP13 CRPD) in December 2020
Organized by: CARE, Community Association for Vulnerable Persons (CAVP, Cameroon), National Union of Women with Disabilities of Uganda (NUWODU) and Women Enabled International. Co-sponsored by: Permanent Mission to Mexico to the UN, Permanent Mission of Ireland to the UN and UNICEF
We have known for years that people with disabilities are often excluded from programs and services designed to prevent and respond to GBV in humanitarian emergencies. More recently with the onset of COVID-19 and the GBV ‘shadow pandemic,’ it has triggered, women and girls with disabilities are being left out and left behind in even greater numbers. They may be isolated in their homes, overlooked during needs assessments and not consulted in the design or evaluation of programs, but global pandemic or no, all human rights of women and girls with disabilities must be ensured and particular protections to those in humanitarian crises must be guaranteed.
This event brings together women who are at the frontlines in Cameroon, Uganda and South Sudan, addressing the intersection between gender, disabilities, GBV prevention and humanitarian response. Through a moderated discussion these women’s firsthand experiences about the key challenges they face were heard and what approaches are working and what needs to change or scale up to ensure we deliver on our collective commitment to make access to GBV services, mental health and psychosocial support, and sexual and reproductive health services and programs available to all on an equal basis. There was also an opportunity for participants to pose their own questions to the panel.
The objectives of the event were To provide an international platform for local disability rights advocates working in a range of countries experiencing humanitarian emergencies to talk directly with States Parties to the CRPD about the challenges that women and girls with disabilities face in these contexts, particularly when it comes to GBV prevention and response and access to the highest attainable standard of mental and physical health, including sexual and reproductive health services. The speakers provided recommendations about how these challenges can be overcome to advance commitments to inclusive humanitarian action and inclusive and gender-responsive sustainable development.
By promoting a better understanding of the challenges local women-led and women’s rights organisations are experiencing both pre-and post-COVID, provide concrete recommendations to the humanitarian system and States Parties to the CRPD to ensure all stakeholders take action to put women and girls with disabilities at the centre of humanitarian action, both as agents of change and as members of affected communities.
To showcase the tools that have been developed to address the intersection between disability, gender and humanitarian response, including the IASC Disability Guidelines, Minimum Standards for Prevention and Response to GBV in Emergencies; and the WRC/IRC Toolkit for GBV Practitioners.
Participants included UN Permanent Missions, experts on gender and disability rights from Member States that are Parties to the CRPD; UN officials and staff; civil society representatives from national, regional and international NGOs.
Manique Presenting Manique Presenting
Manique Gunaratne Visiting Lecturer – University of Colombo
The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Specialised Training & #Disability Resource Centre conducts training on “How to make your organisation an inclusive workplace”. If you wish to have an inhouse training please contact us. Ms. #Manique Gunaratne conducted the “Inclusive Workplace” session at the H R Diploma conducted by EFC in November 2020.
Manique Demonstrating Disability Etiquettes For Vision Impaired PersonsManique Demonstrating Disability Etiquettes For Vision Impaired PersonsManique Conducting The SessionManique Conducting The SessionPresentation on Screen
Manique Gunaratne Resource Person – Beyond the Reach Project of Internet Society Sri Lanka Chapter
Disability Organizations’ Joint Front (DOJF) has embarked on an advocacy initiative to provide “Education and Awareness on the Rights of persons with #disability” to district level leaders as an integral part of the project titled “Disability Inclusion in Mainstream Development Process”. The Advanced phase of the Rights Education was held in September 2020 at Hotel Janaki. The selected participants who have completed the initial training will receive a comprehensive education and training on Disability, Gender & Human Rights.
Ms. #Manique Gunaratne shared her experience in this training program by conducting a session on the “Vocational Training & Employment” thematic area.
Manique Presenting Manique Presenting
Manique with the Panelists Participants Participants
Participants Participants
Manique Gunaratne Member of the Expert Body of the Sub Committee on Persons with Disabilities – Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka