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Key Recommendations Human Rights Watch urges the Sri Lankan Government to: • Investigate all allegations of rape and other sexual violence by Sri Lankan security forces, including from the armed conflict period as well as the years since. Prosecute those responsible for these crimes, including persons with command or other superior responsibility, in proceedings that meet international fair trial standards. Publicize the outcome of such prosecutions, including by providing information on the punishments meted out, and the redress and compensation provided to victims; • Repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), and abolish the system of detention without charge or trial; • Immediately lift access restrictions imposed by the Presidential Task Force on Resettlement, Reconstruction and Security in the Northern Province (PTF) so that medical personnel, counselors, and NGOs providing psycho-social support and independent medical examination and treatment can reach victims of human rights violations; • Release all individuals who have been arrested under emergency or anti-terrorism laws, unless they are charged with recognized criminal offenses. Conduct prompt trials that meet international due process standards; 9 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | FEBRUARY 2013
Methodology From November 2011 to October 2012, Human Rights Watch conducted extensive interviews in Sri Lanka, Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia with victims of alleged sexual violence by the Sri Lankan security forces. In total, we interviewed 120 people, including 68 victims, 10 relatives of victims, 11 witnesses to sexual violence, and 31 church and nongovernmental organization workers, international agency staff, doctors, and lawyers. We also obtained, with the victims’ permission, detailed medical and psychiatric records in 60 of these cases, which include hospital and general practitioner records and medico-legal records (MLRs), which are medical assessments, submitted to an immigration authority in support of a torture survivor’s asylum claim. In three cases, the victim’s account of rape was found credible by immigration courts in the UK and no medical assessment was conducted. Research into sexual violence requires taking into account the consequences for victims of speaking about what they experienced, including possible threats to their physical security and their position within the community should what they say become publicly known. Speaking about sexual violence can also impact the victim’s emotional and psychiatric health. Human Rights Watch took great care to ensure that victims of sexual violence were interviewed in safe conditions and were comfortable speaking about their experiences. The interviews took place privately in the presence of a trusted interpreter and, in some cases, other family members. In all, we interviewed 68 people—27 men, 38 women, and 3 boys— who alleged they suffered rape and other sexual violence by members of Sri Lankan security forces between 2006 and 2012. We also interviewed individuals who said they were present with victims immediately after the latter were raped in 2009. Most victims specifically told us they were concerned about possible reprisals by Sri Lankan security forces against them should their identities become known. The names of all victims interviewed for this report have been withheld, replaced with names and initials that do not reflect their real names to protect their security. Human Rights Watch has also withheld victims’ place of residence, as well as specific dates, locations, and other information that could potentially be used to identify them. All are ethnic Tamil unless otherwise specified. Ages are the age at time of arrest. The month and year of detention and release, rather “WE WILL TEACH YOU A LESSON” 10
Page 1 and 2: H U M A N R I G H T S W A T C H “
Page 3 and 4: Copyright © 2013 Human Rights Watc
Page 6: Map of Sri Lanka
Page 9 and 10: Available information indicates tha
Page 11 and 12: sexual violence such as bites on th
Page 13 and 14: Not all detainees subjected to sexu
Page 15: surveillance of civil society group
Page 19 and 20: I. Background The 26-year-long arme
Page 21 and 22: The Sri Lankan government declared
Page 23 and 24: Senior government officials initial
Page 25 and 26: From 1990 to 2002, Sri Lankan civil
Page 27 and 28: of women and girls. In its response
Page 29 and 30: ongoing military control over admin
Page 31 and 32: damages. 43 The UN has reaffirmed t
Page 33 and 34: Aside from their direct criminal re
Page 35 and 36: Rights Watch and other organization
Page 37 and 38: Criminal Investigation Department (
Page 39 and 40: For instance, GD, a 31-year-old wom
Page 41 and 42: Human Rights Watch that he and othe
Page 43 and 44: international airport, and taken to
Page 45 and 46: Violations: Denial of Basic Due Pro
Page 47 and 48: on this aspect of torture. “Victi
Page 49 and 50: IV. Domestic Response Post-War Barr
Page 51 and 52: LTTE conspiracy to defame and demon
Page 53 and 54: It is possible to identify specific
Page 55 and 56: • Establish, maintain, and public
Page 57 and 58: Appendix: Cases of Rape and Other S
Page 59 and 60: Name: KM Gender: Male Age: 22 Date
Page 61 and 62: Name: DK Gender: Male Age: 21 Date
Page 63 and 64: Name: VV Gender: Male Age: 29 Date
Page 65 and 66: Name: BL Gender: Male Age: 28 Date
Page 67 and 68:
Name: KP Gender: Male Age: 31 Date
Page 69 and 70:
They left me naked with my hands ti
Page 71 and 72:
Name: MB Gender: Male Age: 27 Date
Page 73 and 74:
Name: JV Gender: Male Age: 28 Date
Page 75 and 76:
Name: IR Gender: Female Age: 29 Dat
Page 77 and 78:
Name: KI Gender: Female Age: 29 Dat
Page 79 and 80:
Name: YS Gender: Female Age: 27 Dat
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Name: FJ Gender: Male Age: 20 Date
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Name: DB Gender: Male Age: 19 Date
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Name: PP Gender: Female Age: 29 Dat
Page 87 and 88:
Name: LP Gender: Male Age: 20 Date
Page 89 and 90:
Name: RC Gender: Female Age: 30 Dat
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Name: MT Gender: Female Age: 30 Dat
Page 93 and 94:
Name: YN Gender: Male Age: 46 Date
Page 95 and 96:
Name: DS Gender: Male Age: 17 Date
Page 97 and 98:
Name: HB Gender: Male Age: 22 Date
Page 99 and 100:
Name: CN Gender: Female Age: 32 Dat
Page 101 and 102:
Name: GW Gender: Female Age: 40 Dat
Page 103 and 104:
Name: VM Gender: Female Age: 26 Dat
Page 105 and 106:
Name: MH Gender: Female Age: 35 Dat
Page 107 and 108:
Name: VB Gender: Female Age: 28 Dat
Page 109 and 110:
Name: PV Gender: Female Age: 26 Dat
Page 111 and 112:
Name: EN Gender: Female Age: 28 Dat
Page 113 and 114:
Name: ST Gender: Female Age: 50 Dat
Page 115 and 116:
Name: OP Gender: Male Age: 20 Date
Page 117 and 118:
Name: YT Gender: Female Age: 22 Dat
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Name: RS Gender: Male Age: 27 Date
Page 121 and 122:
Name: KN Gender: Female Age: 30 Dat
Page 123 and 124:
Name: JM Gender: Female Age: 31 Dat
Page 125 and 126:
MG’s medico-legal report, on file
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I could not endure the torture anym
Page 129 and 130:
Name: TH Gender: Female Age: 28 Dat
Page 131 and 132:
Name: DJ Gender: Female Age: 23 Dat
Page 133 and 134:
Name: PR Gender: Male Age: 26 Date
Page 135 and 136:
Name: MJ Gender: Female Age: 32 Dat
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They kicked me on my genitals and r
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Name: DH Gender: Female Age: 32 Dat
Page 141 and 142:
Name: LV Gender: Female Age: 38 Dat
Page 143 and 144:
Name: DV Gender: Female Age: 37 Dat
Page 145 and 146:
Name: PT Gender: Male Age: 23 Date
Page 147:
“We Will Teach You a Lesson” Se
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