We use cookies to personalise content, provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. By using this website, you agree to the use of cookies as stipulated in our privacy policy.

Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Back to all articles
News

Sri Lankan legal experts call for urgent reforms to address SGBV and child abuse cases

Accountability & Rule of Law - Gender Equality & GBV - Sri Lanka - Advocacy

Download PDF Download PDF

On 13th June 2025, a group of Sri Lankan lawyers, legal experts and members of civil society submitted a set of recommendations to the Minister of Justice of Sri Lanka, Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara identifying specific measures to expedite justice for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and child abuse cases in Sri Lanka.

Identifying that SGBV, including domestic violence, and child abuse is a pervasive issue in Sri Lanka, the submission recommended measures to fast track the investigation and prosecution of SGBV. Law reforms to criminalize marital rape and amend the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act No. 34 of 2005 to protect victims better were further recommended.

Attorneys of LAW Sri Lanka’s Gender Justice Legal Network (GJLN) were signatories to this submission. The GJLN is a network of specialized Sri Lankan lawyers established in 2020 by LAW, that has assisted over 950 victim-survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and child abuse through legal services and other essential services.

Download the full submission here and the executive summary here.