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 Northwestern Province in January 2021. The programme was organized with the support of the District Disability Forum in Puttalam and was held at the District Secretariat Office in Puttalam. This project is conducted at the provincial level and the national level. A support network was built with 82 organizations to support during an emergency or in a similar type of pandemic situation in the future.

51 women with disabilities and 10 men with disabilities were introduced among 30 women with non-disabilities and 10 men with non-disabilities under the “Best budding” concept (companion) to ensure the safety and well-being of persons with disabilities against gender-based violence. 
Women with disabilities received the opportunity to join and get eligibility for the ‘Be-Safe’ mobile app via the Android operating system.
280 hygiene kits which consist of sanitary essentials such as masks, sanitisers, sanitary pads, washing powder, soap etc. were distributed with the sponsorship of UNFPA and Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka.

#Manique Gunaratne
Country Representative – World Disability and Rehabilitation Professionals’ Association (WDRPA)