National campaign launched to control sexual harassment in public transport and spaces

SEXUAL harassment in Sri Lanka’s public transport and spaces poses a severe threat to women and girls, limiting their freedom and causing distress. This persistent issue fosters gender imbalance, directly hindering the nation’s economic growth and overall development.

- By Sarna MALIK

In response to this growing challenge, the Sri Lankan Government, in partnership with the Government of Japan and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has initiated a national campaign with a mission to create safer, gender-sensitive public spaces and ensure harassment-free travel on public transport for the public in Sri Lanka.

The campaign was officially launched on 23 July, in partnership with the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, with support from UNFPA Sri Lanka and funding from the Government of Japan.

This campaign is also a part of Sri Lanka’s National Action Plan on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (2024-2028). It aligns with the Government's vision of a ‘CLEAN Sri Lanka,’ which advocates not only for a clean and modern transport system but also for one that is safe, inclusive, and people-centred.

Speaking on the importance of launching this issue as a national campaign, UNFPA Representative for Sri Lanka Kunle Adeniyi stated, “UNFPA has worked for over 50 years worldwide and nationwide to end violence against women and girls, advocating for zero tolerance. Yet, despite all efforts, violence against women and girls still exists in buses, trains, and public spaces. The public transport system, meant to be a convenient mode of travel for the public and to connect people to school, to work, to opportunities, too often becomes places of fear.”

Only 4% of incidents reported to Police