Project Period: 2021 – 2023 December

The RFSU Project is a collaborative initiative spearheaded by The Advocacy Unit of The Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka, in partnership with various organisations.

This project is funded by The Swedish Association for Sexuality Education (RFSU). The RFSU Project, launched in 2021, focuses on advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Sri Lanka. Project Overview In the year 2023, The Advocacy Unit received funding from RFSU to embark on a series of projects aimed at promoting SRHR. To achieve this, The Advocacy Unit has forged partnerships with five prominent organisations: Women in Need, Équité Sri Lanka Trust, The Grassrooted Trust, Hashtag Generation, and the Family Health Bureau. Additionally, an Independent Contractor has been engaged to contribute in conducting research.

Women in Need (WIN) - WIN is a local, non-profit, non-governmental organisation dedicated to combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) experienced by women and girls in Sri Lanka.

Since its establishment in 1987, WIN has consistently expanded its services and reach, striving to create a society that values and upholds women's rights, free from violence. WIN operates across seven districts in Sri Lanka, maintaining six crisis centers, seven help desks in police stations, and seven help desks in hospitals. Their dedicated team of 15 lawyers and 24 counsellors specialise in GBV cases, providing support to thousands of survivors annually.

Current Initiatives

WIN is actively collaborating with The Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka (FPA SL) to develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to address gender-based violence. This initiative seeks to enhance the capacity of FPA SL's service delivery centers to identify and support victims/survivors of GBV. WIN conducted observation visits to five service delivery centers, including Colombo, Batticaloa, Koggala, Awissavella, and Wathupitiwala. These visits have informed the drafting of the SOP, which will be followed by two workshops for staff members at the service delivery centers. The workshops will cover gender awareness and GBV training, ensuring effective service delivery.

Équité Sri Lanka Trust - Équité is a team of multidisciplinary experts committed to excellence in research, advocacy, and development in Sri Lanka and the Asia Pacific region. With a focus on social responsibility, Équité strives to enhance the management and accountability of research, advocacy, and humanitarian work in both government and non-government sectors. Current Initiative Équité is currently working on an action plan based on the suggestions and findings of the Universal Periodic Review. This national action plan aims to promote Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) rights. Équité has conducted stakeholder consultation meetings across four provinces, disseminating UPR findings and gathering input for the national action plan. They have completed these workshops and convened a national-level stakeholder meeting in August 2023 to finalise the National Action Plan for SOGIESC rights.

The Grassrooted Trust - The Grassrooted Trust was founded as a safe space for marginalised communities, with its roots in addressing HIV-related issues. This organisation is guided by core values of respect, empathy, consent, and trust, aiming to uphold human dignity in all its endeavours. Current Initiative. As part of the RFSU Project, The Grassrooted Trust is conducting various initiatives, including:

1. Workshop on Reusable Sanitary Napkins: Empowering women from barter market groups by teaching them to produce reusable sanitary napkins.
2. Investigative Articles: Publishing 30 articles on a range of SRHR topics on the bakamoono.lk website.
3.Information Education and Communication (IEC) Materials: Developing materials for the mindful menstruation group members.
4. Athwela Magazine:Publishing two issues of the Athwela Magazine.
5. Survey on Menstruation Practices:Conducting a survey on myth-based practices on menstruation in the Kurunegala District.
6. Youth Circles:Establishing two youth circles at the village level to engage with youth on SRHR issues through monthly meetings.

Hashtag Generation - Hashtag Generation is a youth-led organisation dedicated to empowering Sri Lankan youth with the skills, information, and tools to actively participate in decision-making processes that affect their communities, technologies, and bodies. We promote transparency, inclusivity, and sustainable peace in Sri Lanka. Current Initiative Hashtag Generation is conducting a preliminary social media analysis to understand attitudes and perceptions related to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Sri Lanka. Their work includes developing a trilingual lexicon of SRHR keywords, sentiment analysis, and identifying negative and misleading narratives on platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. This analysis will inform strategies to ensure equitable access to SRHR services.

Research on Child Marriage by Ermiza Tegal  - Ermiza Tegal is an Attorney-at-Law and human rights activist based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. With over 20 years of experience, her work encompasses a wide range of civil and political rights, including addressing gender-based violence, civil liberties in counter-terror responses, minority rights, and more. Current Research Under the RFSU Project, Ermiza Tegal is conducting a quantitative study on child marriage in Muslim families in Sri Lanka. She is examining the existing Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA), which permits underage marriage, and its impact on the community. This study seeks to understand the relationship between socio-economic conditions and legal protections for families, especially regarding child marriage. Ermiza aims to engage with partner organizations in the North-West, Eastern, and Central provinces to gather data and insights on child marriage cases.

The Family Health Bureau  -  The FHB serves as the focal point for Maternal and Child Health (MCH) in Sri Lanka. FHB is responsible for planning, coordinating, monitoring, and evaluating the Reproductive, Maternal, Child, Adolescent, and Youth Health (RMNCAYH) program in Sri Lanka. Current Initiative Under the RFSU Project, The Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka is collaborating with FHB's Adolescent and Youth Health Unit and Gender and Women's Health Unit. Together, they are improving the relationship between community youth groups and Yowun Piyasa Centers in Government Hospitals. Their activities include monthly meetings and Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) workshops to enhance youth engagement and knowledge on SRHR. Additionally, they are sensitising medical officers and staff on the health sector's response to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).