Professor P. Anuruddhi S. Edirisinghe
MBBS(NCMC), MD(For Med, Col), DLM(Col), DMJ(Lond), FFFLM(UK)
Anuruddhi Samanthika Edirisinghe is the Carder Chair & Senior Professor of Forensic Medicine, in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. She graduated from the North Colombo Medical College in 1995 (8th Batch) and commenced her career in Forensic Medicine in 2000. She completed her specialist training in University of Edinburg after obtaining DLM(2001), MD(For Med)(2003) by University of Colombo Sri Lanka. During her overseas training she has obtained DMJ(Lond)(2005). Later she of obtained MFFLM(UK) in 2012 and became a fellow in 2020. She is a trainer and examiner Forensic Medicine in Sri Lanka from 2006. Further, she has contributed to many National Guidelines related to her discipline as well as National Guideline on management of child abuse. She has held many posts in professional organizations including CFPSL, Medico-Legal Society and INPALMS. She is the first female to hold a forensic carder chair post in a National University in Sri Lanka. She has journal publications over 50, one book, 2 book chapters and over 300 presentations in local/international scientific conferences including plenaries, keynotes, and orations. Her research interests include child abuse, sexual and gender based violence, homicides, vulnerable road users, drunken drivers, unnatural female deaths etc. She is the chair person of the women health committee of Sri Lanka Medical Association and a member in the National Police Academy of Sri Lanka. She is frequently called to the Sri Lanka parliament to give expert opinion in matters related to gender at the policy level. In 2023 November she has been appointed as the President of International Association of Clinical Forensic Medicine.
Doris Chong, Executive Director of RainLily
Doris Chong is a Registered Social Worker and a Certified Social Work Supervisor in Hong Kong. Having served the field for more than 20 years, she has extensive experience both in frontline service and service management. She was RainLily’s Counsellor, and subsequently Senior Counsellor, from 2008 to 2016. She later joined Hong Kong Federation of Women’s Centres, and served a managerial role as Service Supervisor from 2016 to 2022, particularly in planning and promoting the development of the Federation, managing the setting up of two service centres and overseeing various services. Doris specialises in working with women experiencing violence and mental distress, and has thorough understanding of gender policies, as well as sexual violence victim-survivor support.
About RainLily
Set up by the Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women in 2000, RainLily offers sexual violence victim-survivors a one-stop service around the clock, including pregnancy prevention, sexually transmitted infections screening and treatment, forensic medical examination, psychological support and legal process support (statement-taking and court hearing) to female victims aged 14 years or above. Every year, RainLily provides in-depth support to over 300 victim-survivors and handles over 2,000 requests for assistance.
Dr Kwanhathai Darin Wong
MBChB, DTM&H, MMED (Emergency)
Consultant Emergency Physician Emergency & Trauma Department, Hospital Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
Dr Darin Wong is a Consultant Emergency Physician from Malaysia working in
Hospital Pulau Pinang. She completed her undergraduate studies in 1998 from The
University of Liverpool and did a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from The
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine before returning to Malaysia. She then underwent
specialist training in Emergency Medicine from the Science University of Malaysia
which she completed in 2008. She was the Head of Emergency Department in Hospital
Pulau Pinang from 2012 till 2021.
During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, she was appointed by the Penang state
health director as the Deputy State Commander to manage the crisis. These efforts were
recognized by the Asian Association for EMS when the Emergency & Trauma
Department, Hospital Pulau Pinang was awarded the Asian Covid Warriors Award,
Institutional Category for 2021 at EMS ASIA Tokyo 2023.
She is keen on her training responsibilities and is an active instructor for
Advanced Life Support (ALS), Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), Prehospital Care
Management courses and community Basic Life Support Courses.
She also has an added interest in the management of victims of sexual abuse,
child abuse and domestic violence as she has held the role of coordinating the One Stop
Crisis Centres (OSCC) within the Penang island for the past 14 years since 2010. At
national level, she was also appointed as part of the emergency fraternity working
committee group looking into improving the OSCC services with the Malaysian national
guidelines on management of OSCC cases being published in 2016 for the MOH
(Ministry of Health, Malaysia). Currently she is part of The Penang state health
committee on OSCC.
Professional Body Membership
Academy of Medicine Malaysia, College of Emergency Physicians - life member
Malaysian Medical Association - life member
Malaysian National Specialist Register - Emergency Physician
Appointments and committee memberships :
- Coordinator, OSCC committee, Hospital Pulau Pinang
- EXCO Member for Malaysian Resuscitation Association (MyRES)
- Vice Chair, Penang Emergency Medicine Services Welfare Society (PKPKPP)
- Auditor of AccountsVice-President, Penang CPR Society College of Emergency Physicians (CEP), previous
- EXCO member (Malaysia) in PAROS (Pan Asian Resuscitation Outcome Study)
Plenary session 1: การพัฒนาบริการช่วยเหลือผู้เสียหายที่มีประสิทธิภาพ: บทเรียนจากทั่วภูมิภาค (Building Bridges of Care: A cross-regional dialogue on victim support services)
Prof. P. Anuruddhi S. Edirisinghe, Cadre Chair and Senior Professor of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
Ms. Doris Chong, Executive Director of the Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women and RainLily, Hong Kong
Dr. Kwanhathai Darin Wong, Consultant Emergency Physician, Penang Hospital, Malaysia
Dr. Anirut Worawat, Deputy Director of Strategy and Planning, Phrapokklao Hospital, Thailand (Moderator)
Abstract
Can we develop better services for victims of violence? This crucial question resonates across regions, demanding collaborative efforts to learn from diverse experiences and best practices. This 1.5-hour plenary session will bring together a panel of esteemed experts from Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka, weaving a tapestry of regional approaches to victim support for sexual assault and family violence. Embracing diversity, the session will explore:
Victim-centered approaches: Delving into each country's unique strategies for ensuring victim safety, empowerment, and access to justice.
Navigating the care journey: From initial reporting to long-term recovery, the session will unpack the care process for victims in each region, highlighting key support services and resources available.
Mapping the access landscape: Understanding where victims can access these services in each country, including crisis centers, medical facilities, legal aid, and psycho-social support.
Bridging agency gaps: The session will delve into the referral and communication processes between agencies involved in victim support, showcasing successful models for inter-agency collaboration.
Through this cross-regional dialogue, we aim to:
Identify common challenges and opportunities: Recognizing the shared struggles and triumphs in supporting victims.
Spark innovation and adaptation: Sharing best practices and fostering a spirit of collaboration to develop new and effective models for victim support.
Build a stronger regional network: Envisioning a future where knowledge and resources flow freely, strengthening the collective response to violence.