IPS Researcher Contributes Chapter on Women’s Health and Crises in Sri Lanka to Springer Volume

“Crisis experiences highlight that women often bear a disproportionate burden, emphasising their heightened vulnerability and the imperative need for policy attention,” discusses Sunimalee Madurawala, Research Economist at the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS), in her research titled “Navigating the Sustainable Development Goals: Ensuring Women’s Health and Well-being Amidst Crises in Sri Lanka” published in Sustainable Women’s Health: Perspectives from South Asia, a recent volume by Springer.

The chapter examines the gendered impacts of crises in Sri Lanka, highlighting key patterns and insights on how crises affect women’s health and well-being. Recent events in the country demonstrate that women’s health is disproportionately affected during times of crisis, particularly in areas such as sexual and reproductive health, mental health, nutrition, access to health services, and exposure to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and domestic violence. These challenges have significantly constrained Sri Lanka’s progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The chapter underscores the urgent need for gender-sensitive interventions that protect women’s well-being during crises and ensure equitable access to healthcare.

The volume offers an evidence-based analysis of women’s health in South Asia, with global comparisons and strong alignment with the SDGs. It adopts an intersectional and interdisciplinary approach, integrating perspectives from health, gender, and migration studies, and provides practical insights and policy guidance for developing inclusive, gender-sensitive health strategies in the Global South.