Dear All,
The Women’s Coalition for Disaster Management, Batticaloa has written a statement against the rape and murder of a woman in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka last week. Please circulate widely and raise this issue in different forums. WCDM is distributing a Tamil statement in Batticaloa on Friday (12.08.2005) morning. All organisations of the women coalition have taken the responsibility to distribute it.
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 identity 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 organizations 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!
Women’s Coalition for Disaster Management, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.
