GENDER BASED VIOLENCE FORUM (GBV FORUM)

The GBV Forum was set up on 24th August 2005 following a consultation with selected agencies working on gender–based violence (GBV) issues, in order to facilitate greater coordination, understanding & sharing of information and resources and strengthen multi-sectoral responses to GBV.

The membership of the forum is broad-based including local NGOs, International NGOs, UN agencies, donor agencies and Government representation by the National Committee on Women (NCW) of the Ministry of Child Development & Women’s Empowerment. The members of the GBV Forum include United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA)- Chair of the GBV Forum, OXFAM – GB, CARE International Sri Lanka, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), National Committee on Women (NCW), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Women and Media Collective (WMC), Women in Need (WIN), Women’s Development Centre – Kandy (WDC), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), FORUT Sri Lanka, Action Aid International, Action Aid Sri Lanka, National Peace Council (NPC), World Health Organization (WHO), UNDP Regional Centre, Association of War Affected Women (AWAW), International Labor Organization (ILO), World University Service of Canada Sri Lanka (WUSC), Women Defining Peace (WDP) and Christian Children’s Fund – Sri Lanka (CCF).

A significant campaign by the GBV Forum was the 2007 media campaign (http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=ashraffj) in commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (25th November) which triggered much response. 16 TV and Radio messages were broadcast during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based violence
(http://www.cwgl.rutgers.edu/16days/about.html). It was noteworthy that the messages were all relayed by men, both well-known personalities and ordinary citizens, from diverse walks of life. The aim behind this was to convey that combating violence against women cannot be done solely by women and also to acknowledge the role men and boys have to play to ensure a safe place for women and girls.