While all over the world women celebrate International Women’s Day ON 08th March Women’s Action Group has declared the March 08 as a Dark Day and month of March as Dark March.
The full press release:
“Let us all declare this International Women’s Day, the 8th of March, and the full Month of March, as Dark Days”
In our country violence against women and children, particularly sexual violence has been increasing horrendously. Often times there has been no justice for women and children.
Thousands of women, their families and activists who have been fighting for their rights have lost faith and hope waiting for justice. For the case of the 18 year old school girl raped and murdered in2015 In Jaffna (Punkudutheevu), island wide we protested and asked justice. In Batticaloa in 2009, a 24 year old woman was raped and murdered, her mother is still going to the court and asking for Justice. In Hatton (April 2015) a 5 year old girl was raped, in Puttalam (January 2016) 26 year old woman faced attempt to rape, in Gampaha (February2016) 18 years old woman raped, In Gampalai (Feruary 2016) Mother of 7 months child, raped by 10 men, In vavuniya (February 2016)14 years old girl raped and murdered. Likewise all over the country and daily women and children are facing sexual violence.
Therefore, this year, let us all declare this International Women’s Day, the 8th of March, and the full Month of March, as Dark Days.
We are not accepting this anymore!
A country that is violent against women is dark; So, we all declare this March 8 as Dark Day.
• We do not accept violence against women and children in our communities.
• We will not be those who commit violence against women and children.
• We will not allow our men to be perpetrators of violence against women and children.
• We will not stop until we get justice for violence against women and children.
In support of this pledge we will fly black flags in our homes, shops, and offices starting on the 8th of March for the full Month of March.
On the 8th of March we will wear black clothes and tie black arm bands.
Pledges and Demands:
• We do not accept violence against women and children in our communities.
• We will not be those who commit violence against women and children.
• We will not allow our men to be perpetrators of violence against women and children.
• We will not stop until we get justice for violence against women and children.
• Honorable President, We need timely Justice for sexual violence against women and children
• Honorable President, Declare violence against women and girls, particularly sexual violence as a national crisis.
• Honorable President, immediately appoint special team to handle the cases that are pending in the AG’s Department to come for trial