WIN has been fighting gender based violence over the last 30 years.
It has earned itself a reputation of national and international standing, working with the police, the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Justice, and other state and non-state actors, playing an enormous role in sensitising and educating people on gender based violence and its prevention. WIN has been in the forefront of advocating for changes in law and policies, and also has been contributing to many state dialogues on violence against women.
Savithri Wijesekera, the Executive Director of WIN, was appointed member of the National Police Commission of Sri Lanka in 2015, who is also the only female member in the Commission. She was also invited to be on the Leader of the Opposition’s Commission on the Prevention of Violence against Women and the Girl Child . The Commission was appointed in 2013 to make recommendations to the Leader of the Opposition on how VAW and the Girl Child can be prevented.
WIN through its experience in dealing with victims themselves and grassroots communities, was best positioned to make a number of recommendations which have been included in the final report which was presented to parliament in March 2015. Mrs. Wijesekera also represents WIN on the Law Reforms Commission under the National Committee of Women. The committee is in the process of reviewing all existing laws that impact women and girls, in order to make recommendations for positive change towards them in terms of employment, discrimination, and violence.
WIN is a member of the Advisory Committee for the National Shelter and National Helpline for Women.
WIN is also a member of the National GBV Forum of Sri Lanka which is an advocacy forum to influence policy and ensure that laws and policies are implemented, to hold the state accountable for the implementation of laws, procedures and policies.