October 22, 2012 – Although the decades-long internal war in Sri Lanka between the government and militant separatist groups has ended, there is still much work to be done.
“What was clear to many of us in Sri Lanka was that the war had ended, but there was still no feeling of peace.”
Now, as Sunila and other Sri Lankan activists demand an investigation into human rights violations committed by both sides, they have experienced harassment and personal attacks by the state-run media, including some calling for Sunila’s house to be burnt and her family harmed. In June 2012, Sunila spoke at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on behalf of the Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition, exposing the abuses that she and other human rights defenders have experienced and making recommendations for the Council to integrate a gender perspective. Sunila has left Sri Lanka temporarily out of concerns for her safety, and she continues to work for reconciliation and a lasting peace for her country.
Read the Huffington Post interview with Sunila here.
