The Negombo Local Inter Religious Committee (LIRC) organized a meeting for religious leaders, civil society members and government officers under NPC’s project Action for Religious Coexistence (ARC) to highlight the potential of advocacy work.
Advocacy serves as a vehicle for influencing change and ensuring that marginalised voices are heard and considered in policy making and societal development. It contributes to advancing social justice, equality and human rights, bridging the gap between existing conditions and an equitable world.
At the meeting, the Religious Freedom Charter prepared under the Collective Engagement for Religious Freedom (CERF) project was handed over to MP Dr. Kavinda Jayawardena with the purpose of advocating to formulate new policies and laws on religious freedom at the national level.
The charter can be referred to by decision makers when policy and law making was taking place because it served as a connection between the relevant issues on the ground and policymakers.
The charter can be referred to by decision makers when policy and law making was taking place because it served as a connection between relevant issues on the ground and policymakers and the government.
There will be similar advocacy efforts across other districts.