UN Resident Coordinator meets NCW Chairperson in Colombo

June 16 (Daily Mirror) - The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Marc-André Franche, met with the newly appointed Chairperson of the National Commission on Women (NCW), Grace Asirwatham, at the Commission’s office in Colombo.

At the outset of the meeting, the Resident Coordinator congratulated the Chairperson on her appointment and reaffirmed the United Nations’ continued commitment to supporting the National Commission on Women in fulfilling its mandate under the Women Empowerment Act No. 37 of 2024. He was accompanied by representatives of UN Women Sri Lanka, while Commissioners of the NCW also participated in the discussions.

Welcoming the UN delegation, the Chairperson expressed appreciation for the ongoing support provided by the United Nations system, particularly through UN Women, in strengthening the operational capacity of the Commission. She noted the importance of technical assistance in developing institutional procedures, systems, and stakeholder engagement frameworks.

The Chairperson further outlined the key objectives of the Women Empowerment Act and highlighted the role of the National Commission on Women as an independent statutory body mandated to promote and protect the rights of women in Sri Lanka. She also briefed the delegation on progress made in establishing the Commission, including the development of governance structures, coordination mechanisms, and institutional capacity-building initiatives.

The Resident Coordinator reaffirmed the United Nations’ continued support for the operationalisation of the Commission and agreed to facilitate further engagement with relevant UN technical teams to explore areas of cooperation in priority areas.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening collaboration between the United Nations and the National Commission on Women in advancing women’s rights, promoting gender equality, and supporting women’s empowerment across Sri Lanka.