NLEAP launches Inaugural Online Workshop on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment within Language Rights
It was an evening of riveting conversation when NLEAP launched its webinar series for University Academics on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment within language rights. Held on the 16th of September, the inaugural session commenced with a brief refresher by Saama Rajakaruna (Gender Equality Specialist – NLEAP) on the key concepts related to gender equality. The keynote feature by Prof. Luise von Flotow on ‘Gender in Translation’ Head of Graduate Studies, Translation and Interpretation at the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ottawa, sparked a dialogue on how feminist and gender politics impact and influence translation.
Organised to create a platform for dialogue on the nexus between Language Rights and aspects of GEWE, this webinar is the first of a series. The webinars will bring together Academia representing the Translation Departments of the Universities of Kelaniya, Jaffna, Sabaragamuwa and the Eastern University with other renowned gender specialists.
Niyas Raskin (Language Policy Training Specialist – NLEAP), commenting on the success of the webinar noted ‘It was heartening to listen to the renowned professors discussing this particular area of study on one platform. Academics from the partnering universities had much to gain from the session’. He also shared the positive feedback received from the special invitees from the National Languages Department of the Ministry of Public Services, Provincial Councils and Local Government, and the Department of Official Languages who also attended the webinar.
This series of webinars highlights NLEAP’s specific focus on gender equality, to ensure robust analysis of gender considerations and opportunities throughout the various aspects of its project, in keeping with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP) and Sri Lanka’s own commitments towards gender equality and women’s empowerment.
