Thousands have lost their husbands and other family members during the armed conflict. Others, such as those whose husbands and relatives surrendered to the army after the government’s announcement of an amnesty for former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) personnel, still do not know their whereabouts and face an ongoing struggle for truth, justice and accountability. For many women, this has brought new responsibilities: 40,000 households in the north and east are now female headed.
Yet Sri Lanka’s social and political environment remains heavily patriarchal, exposing women to multiple levels of discrimination. Many now have added responsibilities as primary earners for their families: they face limited livelihood opportunities in the post-armed conflict context, and are typically excluded from official development programmes. Furthermore, against a backdrop of competing claims and mass resettlement, they are especially vulnerable to land grabs and other rights violations.
The militarization of the north and east from 2009 has contributed to continued insecurity for minority women. Many, especially widows and the wives of disappeared or ‘surrenderees’, are vulnerable to sexual harassment, exploitation or assault by army personnel or other militias. The military presence in the area, together with the increasing chauvinism of Sri Lanka’s political and religious hierarchy, has also reduced their cultural and religious freedoms – including their right to mourn their dead.
Resettlement in the north and east, not only by those displaced during the armed conflict but also through government-sponsored relocation of Sinhalese workers and households, has raised tensions between communities in the current divisive environment. This is the result not only of disputes over land and resources but also differing social and cultural norms. The increasing prevalence of sexual exploitation and relationships, coerced or otherwise, has put women on the frontline of these conflicts.
So far the government’s response to these ongoing rights violations has been inadequate. In fact, state and military policies are actively contributing to insecurity and the marginalization of women in the north and east. By contrast, women activists continue to advocate, often at great personal risk, for truth, justice and accountability for themselves and other survivors of the armed conflict. However, until a clear framework of protection is created for minority women and other marginalized groups, including physical security, freedom of expression and land rights, the possibility of lasting peace and reconciliation in the north and east remains elusive.
Box 1: Key findings
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• Four years after the
end of the armed
conflict, the situation for minority women in the north
and east of Sri Lanka remains deeply insecure. Thousands of women have lost husbands and other family members to death or disappearance, while human
rights abuses and violations ranging from sexual violence
to land grabbing continue.
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• The government is actively contributing to insecurity
and rights violations through
the pervasive militarization of the north
and east, with negative consequences for
the safety and freedom of minority women. Poorly
managed resettlement and competing land claims
among the increasingly heterogeneous population are also raising tensions between different communities.
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• Many minority women in the north
and east are now the primary income earners for their
households, yet these responsibilities
have not been accompanied by improved rights
or status. Besides the struggle to
secure land
rights or access local
resources, they also face limited livelihood opportunities in the post-armed conflict context
and have not been properly included
in
official development programmes.
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• Women’s activists continue to advocate, often
at great personal risk, for truth, justice, accountability and an end to the climate of impunity that enables ongoing rights violations. However, until a clear protection
framework is in place for minority women and other
marginalized groups, the prospects of a lasting peace
and reconciliation process will remain elusive.
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The
report, Living with insecurity: Marginalization and sexual violence against
women in north and east Sri Lanka, will be available to download on MRG’s website
Minority Rights Group International is
the leading international human rights organization working to secure the rights
of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples. We work
with more than 150 partners in over 50 countries.