Social Empowerment as a Strategy to Address Intimate Partner Violence in Urban Sri Lanka

Abstract

Domestic violence against women remains a persistent issue in urban Sri Lanka, deepened by rapid urbanization, poverty, and entrenched gender roles. This study examines the potential of social empowerment as a sustainable approach to preventing and reducing IPV in these settings. Using a qualitative desk review methodology, the study examines peer-reviewed literature, national policies, and international reports published between 2005 and 2025. Sources were selected through purposive sampling and analyzed thematically to identify core empowerment strategies, including economic support, legal literacy, and emotional resilience. Findings reveal that empowerment-based interventions when supported by social workers, NGOs, and state institutions not only reduce IPV but also challenge harmful gender norms and promote gender equity. Culturally- sensitive, community -driven approaches have been shown to enhance women’s decision- making power and social participation, thereby contributing to long term resilience and safety It concludes with recommendations to strengthen empowerment-based strategies and ensure more effective, contextually relevant responses to IPV in Sri Lanka’s urban communities.