Researchers found that engaging survivors during the study was “especially challenging,” highlighting the deep trauma and fear that continue to affect those impacted by past abuses.
The report noted that sexual violence remains a lasting legacy of Sri Lanka’s civil war, with survivors describing a persistent climate of intimidation and ongoing surveillance, often by the same officers accused of earlier abuses.
Significant legal and institutional barriers to justice remain, including a 20-year statute of limitations on sexual violence cases and the failure of Sri Lankan law to recognise the rape of men. Some survivors who attempted to lodge complaints reported humiliating and intimidating treatment by police and court officials, with one respondent telling the UN that survivors cannot be expected to seek protection from institutions they fear.
Although the government established the Office for Reparations Act in 2018 to compensate victims and survivors, the UN said no concrete steps have been taken to provide interim or full reparations, nor has data been disaggregated by gender. Under international law, survivors are entitled to reparations, and the lack of action has left many without care, dignity, or justice.
Human Rights Watch urged the Sri Lankan government and its international partners to urgently develop programmes to deliver medical care, support services, and interim relief to survivors. While many survivors look to foreign governments and international organisations for justice, the report said meaningful progress toward accountability and access to justice has remained limited.
The report stressed that Sri Lanka is obligated under international law to prosecute those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Until that occurs, it said foreign governments should intensify efforts to press for accountability, including supporting legal processes, strengthening vetting of military personnel for peacekeeping missions, and pursuing cases abroad under universal jurisdiction.
