‘A torture that never stops’: Sri Lanka failing survivors of conflict sexual violence, UN says

It concludes that a legacy of impunity for wartime abuses continues to shape the lives of survivors, many of whom suffer long-term physical injuries, psychological trauma and social exclusion.  

Titled We lost everything – even hope for justice, the report draws 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 amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity,” OHCHR spokesperson Jeremy Laurence told journalists in Geneva.

“Sri Lanka is legally obligated, under multiple international treaties and commitments, to prevent, investigate, and prosecute such violations and ensure reparation for survivors.”

Intimidation and stigma

Among its findings, the report notes that survivors – women and men alike – face an enduring climate of intimidation, surveillance and stigma, leading to 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) insurrections of the 1970s and late 1980s.  

During these periods, sexual violence was widely used, as a method of intimidation, punishment, and control over conflict-affected populations, the report states.

Alarming impunity

Despite the end of active hostilities in 2009, OHCHR says militarisation, emergency legal frameworks and a weakened rule of law have enabled gender-based violence – including sexual violence – to persist with alarming impunity.  

The report also highlights major gaps in Sri Lanka’s domestic legal framework.  

There is no specific legislation addressing conflict-related sexual violence, statutes of limitation remain in place, forensic capacity is limited, and prosecutions are rare. Male and LGBTQ+ survivors are particularly invisible, with some experiences unacknowledged or criminalised under existing laws.

Restore dignity

The report also underscores that recognition and accountability are essential to restoring dignity and advancing reconciliation.

It calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to take immediate and concrete steps to publicly acknowledge past sexual violence committed by State forces and others, and to issue a formal apology.  

It should also implement survivor-centred reforms across the security sector, judiciary and the legal framework, establish an independent prosecution office, and ensure access to psychological and social support.