Forgotten Experiences of Up-country Tamil Women in Transitional Justice
they also lose their daily wage when they go to the police station or
any other institution.
Sexual Harassment
Up-country Tamil women also face sexual harassment when
they seek help to access services and justice. The main perpetrators
are government service providers, especially police officers, trade
union representatives, and other men within the Up-country Tamil
community. Two women shared their experiences as follows:
“The police officer told me that in order to find my brotherin-law, you need to come with me. Only when the other
police officers laughed, I understood what he really meant”
– Sister-in-law of a disappeared person, Hatton.
“I was really scared. When the officer said, ‘you must have
slept with so many LTTE men, why can’t you stay one night
with me?” These words made me so scared. Luckily he did
not do anything to me as he said” – Mother of a disappeared
person, 57 years.
The other factor is that women have no idea what they should
do when they face these types of sexual harassment.
Unseen Psycho-Social Needs
“I had sleepless nights when neighbours discuss how
people are generally tortured in detention centres. One
day I fainted in the tea estate. Since then I cannot do much
work with my right arm” – Mother, whose son was arrested
in 2007, Ragala.
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