Amara Forums of WHH use Widows Charter to appeal to the Chief Minister for Northern Provincial Council
Viluthu Centre for Human Resource Development, the District Women Forums and the Amara Forums of Women Heads of Households in the north, jointly hold this regional conference in honour of the International Widow’s Day on the 22nd of June in order to introduce the ‘National Widows’ Charter and to emphasize ‘Transitional Justice’. The National Widows’ Charter which was for the very first time in South Asia region, prepared by the grass-root groups and presented to the government. The Amara Forums and District Women Forums of the Women Heads of Households, facilitated by Viluthu are introducing the National Widows’ Charter to all the provincial councils, Government Departments and civil societies.
The Hon. Chief Minister of NPC, Mr. C. V. Wigneswaran, the Chief Guest at this event while receiving the National Widows’ Charter, recalled the submission of the memorandum of concerns of the WHH to him in 2013 by the Amara Forum during his speech and welcomed this endeavour towards policy contribution. The Regional Director of Rural Development Department of the NPC, Mr. J. J. Phelician who was the guest of honour at this event appreciated the efforts of the district networks of WHH in addressing the grievances of the women. He encouraged Viluthu network to spearhead the activities of the WHH. The Executive Director of Viluthu Centre for Human Resource Development, Ms. Aaranya Rajasingam and the Programme Coordinator of Viluthu, Mrs. H. Inthumathy had facilitated the panel discussions during this event.
District Women Forums are the networks of all the Women Rural Development societies at the district level in the districts of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Putalam, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Mannar. Amara Forum of WHH are the networks of all the societies of the Women Heads of Households consisting of 17500 members at the district level in seven districts, including women who are widows, divorcees, women abandoned by husbands, spouses of missing persons and orphaned women.
