In 2009, the aftermath of the violence between freedom fighters and the Sri Lankan government, people's human rights are greatly violated by armed groups including sexual abuse, physical torture, disappearance, military control over civilians’ movements in the post war zones. As a result, victims of human rights violations, particularly women suffer without being treated equally and required public services as well as justice from judicial and public institutions.
Because of the ever presence of armed forces, governmental intimidation, threats of armed groups and political influence that were prevalent in our operations regions, even they were unable to submit a police complaint. On the other side, there has been an upsurge in instances of human rights breaches and gender-based violence. The death of a loved one, poverty, lack of justice, and uneven access to resources left the women victims in a highly precarious position and devastated.
Several women returned to hospitals and mental health units with physical injuries and a desperate need for treatment. In addition, they came to service delivery without basic facilaities. As a result, they had no idea where to go or how to seek treatment for their difficulties and requirements through the institutional framework. This vulnerability of women and the poorest people provided a chance for certain public service providers to solicit bribes from victims, ignore their service, and abuse their commitments.
We concluded from the aforementioned circumstances that neither society nor the governmental sectors has enough procedures in place to avoid or effectively address the aforementioned problems. As a result, the status of the war has contributed to an environment in war affected communities increased inequality and the vulnerability of women and others who have been touched by the war. It also had an impact on the basic rights and dignity of women. Yet, there were no rights-based civil society organizations to address these problems and victims' rights abuses when they arose.
In order to assist weak and disadvantaged women in exercising their fundamental rights and addressing their needs for sustainable development, a group of social activists established the Eastern Social Development Foundation in 2010 as a rights and women-based Civil Society organization.
In the aftermath of the war in Eastern Province, the Eastern Social Development Foundation has been assisting individuals in need who are vulnerable women and minority communities across the nation who have experienced gender-based violence and other types of community violence. We have been putting a lot of effort towards upholding human rights, advancing gender equality, good governance, peace, and reconciliation, as well as supporting community development in the Eastern Province's war-affected areas.
