Search Results - Saroor, Shreen

Shreen Abdul Saroor

Shreen Abdul Saroor (born 1969) is a Sri Lankan peace and women's rights activist. Saroor co-founded the ''Mannar Women's Development Federation'' (MWDF) to support women affected by the Sri Lankan civil war. She also works toward a united Sri Lankan women's movement under the umbrella organization, the ''Women's Action Network'' (WAN).

Saroor grew up in the north of Sri Lanka and experienced the violence of the civil war firsthand. In 1990, her family was forcibly removed from their home in Mannar and had to relocate to an internally displaced persons camp. Her father created a community organisation to help displaced people in the camp, and Saroor volunteered with him. Saroor's experiences in the civil war, particularly its impact on women, along with her experience volunteering with her father, influenced her to pursue advocating for women. This culminated in the creation of the MWDF in 1998. Throughout most of the civil war, the MWDF assisted women experiencing war-related gender issues such as widowing, wartime rape and child soldier recruitment. After the war ended, Saroor formed WAN in 2010 to advocate for women's issues throughout Sri Lanka, including through law reform and legal assistance.

Saroor has been recognised by international NGOs as a leader in the Sri Lankan peace and women's rights movements. Her work includes micro-credit loan programs, domestic violence advocacy and support, and reconciliation between Sri Lanka's ethnic and religious groups. She also advocates for reforms to Sri Lanka's Muslim laws, campaigns for the rights of female workers, and fights against Islamaphobia. Provided by Wikipedia