Pragati, a newly established foundation is committing seed funds to initiate a network to promote better representation for women in politics and carrying out an intensive campaign between now and next local government election to lobby.

They seek your participation through (a) responses to this email list (please send an email to: coord@lankawomen.net) or through posts and comments on the www.lankawomen.net site and (b) supporting their lobbying efforts as they will  keep you informed of those. They also encourage you to further support the network by volunteering and/or donating.

To give some background, a recent bill to amend the local government elections act of 1989 contained no provisions for women’s representation in spite of arguments made by women’s groups, women parliamentarians and several other women politicians. The lankawomen.net campaign aims to strengthen the voice of these women by bringing in the voices of some or all of the 95 women representatives from provincial and local government bodies plus additional grass-roots organizations as one networked entity.

Their goal is to bring together all stakeholders as a strong network that makes a concerted and a continuous effort, during the next one year or so, towards women’s representation in politics through legislative, institutional and attitudinal changes. The campaign will end in April 30, 2010 (or after the next local government election to be held in 2010).

 Please go to www.lankawomen.net for more information

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