Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a nation in South Asia. It has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the world, homosexuality is banned and LGBT people face violence and discrimination. Sex education is lacking and needs improvement. RFSU supports organisations in the country working for change.
Income levels, literacy rates, infant mortality and life expectancy in Sri Lanka are good compared to other countries in the region. However, wealth is unevenly distributed across the population and often linked to ethnicity and location.
Sri Lanka is marked by the civil war that lasted until 2009 and claimed the lives of almost 100,000 people. The conflict arose when the Sri Lankan Tamils sought independence for a separate state in northern Sri Lanka.
The population is facing tough times due to the current political and economic crisis of the 2020s. Poverty has increased significantly. This has made parts of the population extremely vulnerable, especially those living in the northern part of Sri Lanka.
Organisations
RFSU supports organisations with clear feminist work and organisations in the northern part of the country. As many international donors have left the country, RFSU also supports collaboration with other Swedish organisations and actors in the region working for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The need for SRHR is extensive in Sri Lanka.
FOSDOO and JSAC
These organisations work with health issues and access to SRHR. They support women's rights, work against violence and collaborate at local level with schools and health centres.
FPASL, Family Planning Association in Sri Lanka
FPSL is a sister organisation of RFSU. The organisation has clinics around Sri Lanka and works for everyone's right to sexual and reproductive health. FPSAL has conducted studies on attitudes and values around abortion and how to improve support for women who are victims of violence. FPA also analyses how SRHR is discussed on social media, in order to be able to carry out more effective change work.
MWRAF, Muslim Women Research and Action Forum
MWRAF, an organisation for and with Muslim women, has been advocating for women's self-determination over their bodies for 40 years. They work with Muslim leaders to advance women's rights, including access to divorce. Additionally, MWRAF manufactures sustainable sanitary towels to raise awareness about menstruation in schools and start a dialogue about SRHR.
