Archive · 15 Jan 2026
UN Report Highlights Unaddressed Sexual Violence in Sri Lanka
A new UN report says that during Sri Lanka's long civil war, many Tamil people were hurt by the country's security forces.
This happened because the forces wanted to scare and control people.
The report says that even though the war ended 17 years ago, many people who were hurt are still suffering and haven't gotten justice.
The UN says the Sri Lankan government needs to admit what happened, say they're sorry, and help the people who were hurt.
The report also says that the government needs to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen again.
Sexual violence was widely used by State security forces during Sri Lanka's civil war, primarily against Tamil civilians and LTTE members.
The UN report highlights the ongoing impact of this violence, with survivors still suffering physically and psychologically and denied justice.
The report calls for the Sri Lankan government to acknowledge past sexual violence, issue a formal apology, and implement survivor-centred reforms.
Survivors face a climate of surveillance, intimidation, and harassment, contributing to under-reporting and deep stigma.
The UN emphasizes Sri Lanka's legal obligations to prevent, investigate, and prosecute such violations and ensure reparation for survivors.
- Who
- Tamil civilians and LTTE members, primarily women
- What
- Sexual violence during Sri Lanka's civil war
- When
- During the civil war (ended in 2009) and ongoing impact
- Where
- Northern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka
- Why
- Used as a method of intimidation, punishment, and control by State security forces
- Conflict Duration
- Nearly 30 years (ended in 2009)
- Primary Perpetrators
- State security forces
- Primary Victims
- Tamil civilians and LTTE members
- Report Title
- We lost everything – even hope for justice
- Reporting Period
- A decade of monitoring by UN Human Rights Office
- Government Commitment
- Advance domestic accountability and reforms
- Survivor Issues
- Chronic physical injuries, infertility, psychological breakdowns, suicidal thoughts
- UN Recommendations
- Public acknowledgment, formal apology, survivor-centred reforms, independent prosecution office, access to support
