Validation session of the legal assessment for SDG 5.1.1

A validation session of the legal assessment for SDG 5.1.1 on the availability of legal frameworks to promote, enforce and monitor equality and non-discrimination on the basis of sex, was successfully conducted by the Sustainable Development Council today. 

Removing discriminatory laws and promoting laws that advance gender equality are prerequisites to achieving SDG 5 on Gender Equality.  SDG Indicator 5.1.1 is crucial in accelerating progress on SDG 5 as it tracks legal frameworks for compliance with principles and standards of equality and non-discrimination.  

The inputs received from the relevant government agencies, sector experts, international organizations etc. after several rounds of technical level discussions, were validated by the representatives of the Law Commission of Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment, the Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment, Attorney General's Department, Department of Census and Statistics, United Nations Population Fund, United Nations Development Program and civil society representatives. 

The Sustainable Development Council expects to publish the findings of this assessment to draw the attention of policymakers to address the current gaps in the legal framework in order to advance gender equality in Sri Lanka.