The Nation Forum of Women with Disabilities (NFWD) successfully implemented the project “Digital Democracy for Women with Disabilities – Strengthening Inclusive Civic Engagement in Sri Lanka” from January to May 2026, empowering women with disabilities through digital literacy, online safety awareness, and civic participation initiatives.WD Strengthens Digital Inclusion Through “Digital Democracy” Project in Sri Lanka
NFWD Strengthens Digital Inclusion Through “Digital Democracy” Project in Sri Lanka
The Nation Forum of Women with Disabilities (NFWD) successfully implemented the project “Digital Democracy for Women with Disabilities – Strengthening Inclusive Civic Engagement in Sri Lanka” from January to May 2026, empowering women with disabilities through digital literacy, online safety awareness, and civic participation initiatives.
The project reached participants from the Western, Southern, and Northern provinces of Sri Lanka and directly engaged 64 women with visual, hearing, and physical disabilities through a series of inclusive workshops and mentorship activities.
As part of the initiative, NFWD conducted three structured training workshops focusing on digital literacy, civic engagement, e-governance services, social media advocacy, online safety, and cyberbullying prevention. Accessible learning methods including sign language interpretation, multilingual materials, and screen-reader-compatible content ensured meaningful participation for all attendees.
The project also launched the national digital advocacy campaign #DigitalVoicesForInclusion, which amplified the voices and lived experiences of women with disabilities through four advocacy video productions and social media engagement activities. The campaign generated significant public engagement and reached more than 40,000 people across Sri Lanka through Facebook and other digital platforms.
In addition, six peer learning and mentorship groups were established across the three provinces to ensure continued learning, leadership development, and safe digital participation beyond the project period. Several participants emerged as Digital Safety Ambassadors, supporting peer learning and inclusive digital engagement within their communities.
According to project monitoring data, participant knowledge levels improved significantly, with digital awareness increasing from approximately 20% to over 90% following the training sessions.
The initiative was implemented by the Nation Forum of Women with Disabilities (NFWD) with support from the Digital Democracy Initiative, Accountability Lab South Asia, and ADI South Asia.
