Noble We lost everything, including hope for justice.The report is based on more than a decade of UN monitoring and consultations with survivors, civil society and experts.
“Sexual violence in conflict constitutes a serious violation of international law, which may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity.“OHCHR spokesperson Jeremy Laurence told reporters in Geneva.
“Sri Lanka is legally obliged, under multiple international treaties and commitments, to prevent, investigate and prosecute such violations and ensure reparations to survivors.”
Bullying and stigma
Among its findings, the report notes that survivors – both women and men – face an enduring climate of intimidation, surveillance and stigma, resulting in widespread under-reporting and a near-absence of effective remedies.
“Sexual violence is a torture that never stops,“one survivor told UN investigators.
The conflict between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which lasted from 1983 to 2009, was marked by widespread abuses. Documented cases of conflict-related sexual violence date back even further, including during the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) uprisings of the 1970s and late 1980s.
During these periods, sexual violence was widely used as a method of intimidation, punishment and control over populations affected by the conflict, the report states.
Alarming impunity
Despite the end of active hostilities in 2009, OHCHR says militarization, emergency legal frameworks and a weakened rule of law have allowed gender-based violence – including sexual violence – to persist with alarming impunity.
The report also highlights significant gaps in Sri Lanka’s domestic legal framework.
There is no specific legislation addressing conflict-related sexual violence, statutes of limitations remain in place, forensic capacity is limited and prosecutions are rare. Male and LGBTQ+ survivors are particularly invisible, and some experiences are not recognized or criminalized under existing laws.
Restore dignity
The report also highlights that recognition and accountability are essential to restore dignity and promote reconciliation.
Calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to take immediate and concrete steps to publicly acknowledge past sexual violence by state forces and others, and to issue a formal apology.
It should also implement survivor-focused reforms across the security sector, judiciary and legal framework, establish an independent prosecutor’s office and ensure access to psychological and social support.