UPR Sexual Rights Database

... Since January 2017, Sri Lanka has successfully introduced a subject called ‘Think Equal’ in pilot schools across twelve districts. The new subject teaches children between the ages of three and seven, social and emotional intelligence and core values including gender sensitivity, equality and human rights. ... [Para 29]

… JS1 also noted that violence against women was perpetrated not only by
State actors at all levels, but also within Tamil and Muslim communities. [Para 68]

The Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants recommended that Sri Lanka withdraw the circular issued by the Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare in January 2014 in order to respect women’s freedom of movement. [Para 66]

The Department of Probation and Child Care Services under the MWCASE conducts
programmes on creating and establishing rights-based environments for marginalized
children from urban, fishery, indigenous and Estate sectors. Already they have conducted
programmes to develop the psycho-social condition and leadership skills of these children,
to raise awareness among parents, elders, certify security to protect child rights, to develop
basic logistics of their schools and to issue birth certificates to children living in the Estate
sector. [Para 102]

Strengthen measures to eliminate all forms of violence against women, amongst others by criminalizing marital rape.

Decriminalize same-sex relations by repealing Sections 365 and 365A of the penal code.

Enhance measures to promote equality and eliminate all forms of discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, caste and any other ground.

Step up efforts to enhance participation by women in political and public life.

The United Nations country team also underlined the need to strengthen public health programmes, which had been compromised during the pandemic, in order to revamp previous targeted preventative interventions to reach the most vulnerable, including ... persons living with HIV ... It also stressed the need to strengthen psychosocial services to antenatal and postnatal women, young persons and survivors of gender-based violence. [Para 52]

Take further steps to eradicate all forms of discrimination and violence against minority communities, including women and girls, and implement the recent recommendations in this regard from the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.

Increase women's participation in the public and political life and reform laws that discriminate against women.

[The Committee against Torture] ... noted that people suspected of having even a remote link with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam had been abducted and subjected to brutal torture, including sexual violence and rape of men and women by the military and the police in unacknowledged places of detention. It urged Sri Lanka to ensure that all allegations of unlawful detention, torture and sexual violence by security forces were promptly, impartially and effectively investigated by an independent body, and to close down any unofficial detention centres and ensure that no one was detained therein. [Para 19]