PAFFREL had been conducted this project from October 2007 to September 2008. The objectives of the project were to enhance awareness in democratic rights, rights of minority groups and the rights of women, and in the mechanisms that are in place for seeking remedies in cases of violation of rights., to contribute to creation of social harmony by observance of the rights and entitlements of every citizen without discrimination on the basis of sex, ethnicity, language, religion / caste and to enhance the capacity of local communities to get together and work for common good.

The project intended to conduct 27 dialogues in each of the 3 themes of Democratic Rights, Minority Rights and Women’s Rights making a total of 81 dialogues. In the districts of Kalutara, Nuwara-eliya, Matara, Hambantota, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Vavuniya and Monaragala.

During the reporting period 43 workshops were conducted out of 81 total workshops in the project with the successful participation of religious leaders, members of community based organizations, government officials and members of the civil society in all the 8 districts.

The other objective of this project is to maintain selected organizations in PAFFREL network that are strategically importance to achieve PAFFREL overall objectives. Hence, 9 selected community based organizations which are active member organizations of PAFFREL network were financial assisted.

This project is funded by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED)