Women's Coalition for Disaster Management Batticaloa  12th August 2005!

Has Civilisation Died?
Stop Violence Against Women!

Last Wednesday, 3-8-2005, the body of a woman who was raped and murdered was found at the Batticaloa Methodist Central College Hall. This brutal incident of gendered violence is part of the continuum of broader violence in our society today. 

• This incident raises many important questions beyond those of who perpetrated this violence and what the identify of the victim of this violation was.
• Is there no protection for women in this 21st century, when it is claimed that humans have achieved large scale development and progress? Is there no end to brutal acts like this, which violate women’s rights?
• Why do these violent acts happen again and again?
• Our society raises questions and takes action when injustices are carried out in the name of ethnicity and religion, but why is it silent when this violence happens against women?

Social and political violence and rights violations specifically against women are continuing. It is usually the case that when an incident takes place it will be given attention and publicity for a while – but this it will diminish over time, until another brutal incident takes place.   
 
All individuals, groups and organisations working for the welfare of the society, for peace and for human rights, should condemn this incident.  They should take action to stop these incidents from happening again.

All parties who are negotiating for peace should pay full attention to bringing justice to this incident. There should be a complete investigation and the perpetrators should be brought in front of the law.  There is no peace without justice. 

All people who want a society free from violence, should make it clear to their children, families and neighbours that incidents like this are unacceptable.  Such violence cannot be allowed to be quietly forgotten.

As individual women, and organisations working for women’s rights, 
we strongly condemn this incident. We also pay our respect to this sister who was buried anonymously without any ritual, respect or tears.

Create a society where violence against 
women is not tolerated. 

STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN! 

MWRD, WWDF, Suriya, NESEDA, Viluthu, CARE, OXFAM GB, OXFAM CAA, WUSC, FCE, MEESAN, ESDF, PWA, KPNDU, FORUT, SCiSL, Sarvodaya, Women’s Action Groups from Welfare Centres in Batticaloa,  EVAW,  GBV Task Force, The Mangrove.

-ranji (swiss)
ranr@bluewin.ch