Sri Lanka Country Briefing

This brief on Sri Lanka from the Gender, Justice and Security Hub looks at the country context, including issues such as the violet end to the civil war, challenges with the peace and progress, and ongoing security risks. Women and girls, especially those from the most conflict-affected regions, were disproportionately affected by the war in Sri Lanka. They continue to face challenges relating to economic insecurity, social stigma, and limited access to justice for the many forms of violence they have endured. Though the empowerment of women and gender justice are understood ascritical elements of post-war reconciliation Sri Lanka, progress has been hampered by patriarchal norms, displacement, economic dependence, and inadequate legal mechanisms. In Sri Lanka, GJS Hub research focusses on gendered experiences of conflict and the reconstruction process, including the legacies of forced displacement and the ways in which social roles of women and men have been shaped by the prolonged conflict. The projects linked to Sri Lanka are diverse and interdisciplinary, employing both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Ethnography and interviews with returnees offer insights into the socio-economic factors influencing the reintegration process, while household surveys of internally displaced people provide a comparative lens on living conditions and gender-specific challenges pre- and post-displacement. Participatory arts-based methods facilitate discussions around gender norms and theatre and videography have been used to engage Tamil women in storytelling to process experiences of identity and trauma. Workshops and craft-making groups were used as mediums for dialogue and community building among women, focusing on the preservation of indigenous knowledge and fostering economic independence. Finally, participant observation, ethnography, and discourse analysis investigate perspectives on the Office of Missing Persons and its role in the ongoing search for truth and justice in post-conflict Sri Lanka. This brief details gendered challenges in the region, key findings and recommendations for the national government and international actors.
Gender Justice and Security GCRF Hub (2024) Sri Lanka Country Briefing