We are proud to mark the publication of the latest CEDAW Shadow Report on Sri Lanka, jointly submitted by the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice and the International Working Group on Sri Lanka.
This important report provides an independent assessment of Sri Lanka’s progress — and persistent gaps — in fulfilling its obligations under the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). It highlights how, despite legal commitments and recent policy developments, many women and girls in Sri Lanka continue to face entrenched discrimination and barriers to justice.
The report underscores that the country’s 26-year armed conflict had a disproportionate and lasting impact on women, and that sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) remains widespread today. Fifteen years after the end of the war, survivors still encounter significant social, cultural and economic obstacles when seeking protection or accountability.
While welcoming steps such as the 2024 Women’s Empowerment Act and the establishment of the National Commission on Women, the report raises serious concerns about limited implementation, inadequate resources, and the risk that reforms remain largely aspirational. It also draws attention to structural inequalities — including discriminatory personal laws and deeply rooted patriarchal norms — that continue to undermine gender equality.
This shadow report is both a call to action and a roadmap for change. It urges the Sri Lankan government and international partners to move beyond commitments on paper and deliver meaningful, survivor-centred reforms that ensure accountability, equality, and justice for all women.
We invite policymakers, advocates, and community members to engage with the findings and recommendations — and to stand with the women of Sri Lanka whose resilience and leadership continue to drive the struggle for rights and dignity.
Launching the CEDAW Shadow Report on Sri Lanka
We are proud to mark the publication of the latest CEDAW Shadow Report on Sri Lanka, jointly submitted by the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice and the International Working Group on Sri Lanka.
This important report provides an independent assessment of Sri Lanka’s progress — and persistent gaps — in fulfilling its obligations under the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). It highlights how, despite legal commitments and recent policy developments, many women and girls in Sri Lanka continue to face entrenched discrimination and barriers to justice.
The report underscores that the country’s 26-year armed conflict had a disproportionate and lasting impact on women, and that sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) remains widespread today. Fifteen years after the end of the war, survivors still encounter significant social, cultural and economic obstacles when seeking protection or accountability.
While welcoming steps such as the 2024 Women’s Empowerment Act and the establishment of the National Commission on Women, the report raises serious concerns about limited implementation, inadequate resources, and the risk that reforms remain largely aspirational. It also draws attention to structural inequalities — including discriminatory personal laws and deeply rooted patriarchal norms — that continue to undermine gender equality.
This shadow report is both a call to action and a roadmap for change. It urges the Sri Lankan government and international partners to move beyond commitments on paper and deliver meaningful, survivor-centred reforms that ensure accountability, equality, and justice for all women.
We invite policymakers, advocates, and community members to engage with the findings and recommendations — and to stand with the women of Sri Lanka whose resilience and leadership continue to drive the struggle for rights and dignity.
Read the full report here:
https://srilankacampaign.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SLC-IWG-CEDAW-shadow-report.pdf
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