An Advocacy workshop called “Advocacy in Practice” supported by the International Women’s Health Coalition was held on the 6th and 7th of February at the Renuka Hotel in Colombo for CSOs and organizations working with and for youth, in preparation for the 59th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Main objectives of event was to review the 20 years progress of Beijing Platform for Action to come up with a youth outcome statement, which can be used for lobbying government delegates from Sri Lanka
to the 59th CSW and also for the participants to be trained on developing and delivering advocacy messages that would help them improve their lobbying skills. Ms. Madu Dissanayake (Director Advocacy and HIV/AIDS, FPA Sri Lanka) facilitated the sessions on the topics of “Advocating for Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights”, “Gender Based Violence” and “Developing Advocacy Messages”. Mr Senel Wanniarachchi (UN Youth Delegate for Sri Lanka & IPPF Youth Champion) was a co speaker on the topic “Delivering Advocacy Messages” at this workshop. Chairperson of the IEC Committee and members representing technical advisory committees of FPA Sri Lanka also participated in this event.