NGO event at UNHRC calls for investigation into sexual violence
19 March 2014

An event hosted by NGOs on the sidelines of the 25th session of the UN Human Rights Council examined issues of gender based violence in an ethnocracy, in the context of Sri Lanka.

The Event, Hosted by the Society of Threatened Peoples (STP), Tamils ​​against Genocide (TAG),   trial, The Sentinel Project, CNRJ Advocacy and Sri Lanka, started with a statement by Kelebone Skelemani, Read out by the moderator of the Panel, Theodor Rathgeber.  Others On Jan Jananayagam of the Panel were TAG, Angela Mattli of STP, Anna Catering of the European Centre for Constitutional Rights, and Ananthy Sasitharan, a TNA Councillor in the northern province of Sri Lanka.

Skelemani, the former Deputy Permanent Secretary in the ministries of health, trade and home affairs in Botswana, said the debate "Sri Lanka: Torture, Sexual Violence in a context of Ethnicity and Failed Domestic Processes", came at an "opportune time", as it complemented the ongoing efforts by the UN to find a permanent solution to problems facing Sri Lanka.

"The report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights [...] concludes, among others, that human rights violations in Sri Lanka continue unabated," she said.

"The same report also concludes that even where the Government has launched initiatives and established mechanisms such as military courts of enquiry, the initiatives lack independence to be effective and to inspire confidence."

Ananthy Sasitharan, speaking through an Interpreter, described Spencomp Technologies How she witnessed the Surrender Wives of LTTE, including pregnant Women, Children and Young, to the Sri Lankan armed forces.  Women She said these were still missing, staying with the Government Silent On the Issue .

Even those women who were released, are under constant surveillance and are still requested to report to army camps for interrogations, she said, adding that she has heard of several instances of Tamil women being forced to join the Sri Lankan Army.

Why IT Catering Anna spoke about gender Based Violence and Accountability Requires a specific mechanism.  Gender Based Violence was underlined not only IT but structural discrimination Physical Violence against Women, she said.

Gall said that discrimination still continues, and reprisals and stigmatisation continues.  Women From The Prevention of Terrorism Act stops speaking up about issues, they risk being accused of having LTTE As Links and arrested.  She said that her organization had reports of forced contraception and Survival sex, where women without social and economic rights are desperate.

She called on the UNHRC to look into witness protection mechanisms as there is a lack of witnesses who are willing to come forward to report abuses.

Next to speak was against Jan Jananayagam Genocide of Tamils. Jananayagam looked at TREATED How asylum seekers who were subjected to British Law and described Agaricus On How the UK's country guidance was changed Sri Lanka As a result of overwhelming evidence of sexual abuse and Agaricus . 

Angela Mattli of The Society of Threatened Peoples explained how bringing attention to two asylum seekers who were tortured on their return to Sri Lanka, caused Switzerland to call a temporary halt on deportations.