This Sunday marks 16 years since the Sri Lankan government ended its conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), concluding a 26-year-long war. Despite the end of hostilities, justice for Tamil women victims remains elusive.
During the conflict, both sides committed numerous atrocities. Female LTTE fighters and other Tamil women were captured by government soldiers, subjected to sexual violence, and killed in the final weeks of fighting. Soldiers reportedly took photos and videos as war trophies, including images of LTTE newscaster Isaipriya, who was allegedly raped before being killed.
Sexual violence against Tamils by state forces was common during and after the war. Many Tamil detainees suffered sexual torture at the hands of security forces.
Successive governments in Sri Lanka have not held security force members accountable for wartime sexual violence or other human rights violations such as extrajudicial killings, torture, and enforced disappearances.
Today, militarization in the north and east continues to threaten former LTTE female fighters with sexual abuse and extortion. Women leading protests for truth and international justice face threats, violence, and harassment.
The lack of accountability has led Tamil victims to lose faith in domestic justice systems. The United Nations human rights chief emphasizes using all forms of jurisdiction to investigate crimes committed in Sri Lanka to combat “systematic impunity.”
The UN’s “Sri Lanka Accountability Project” gathers evidence for potential prosecutions. It is up for renewal by the UN Human Rights Council in September. The project’s continuation is crucial for ensuring justice for victims like Isaipriya and those affected by disappearances.
