Women and children in the North: Sexual harassment, grievances and challenges

by WATCHDO

! on "#$%"$&#"% 'n Se(tember &#"%, Watchdog travelled to the )anni*"+ and met ,ith survivors o- sexual violence, ,omen.s rights activists and re(resentatives o,omen.s grou(s/ This re(ort is based on in-ormation (rovided during intervie,s conducted ,ith them, Human 0ights organisations based in the North and Colombo and overnment sources/ During our interactions ,ith these grou(s, ,e learnt o- a disturbing trend o- minors being sub1ect to sexual violence over the last several months/ 'n addition, ,e also s(o2e to ,ar ,ido,s, single ,omen and -ormer -emale combatants ,ho continue to -ace harassment and abuse at the hands o- the military and -rom their o,n community/

 'n December &#"", more than t,o years a-ter the end o- the armed con-lict in Sri 3an2a, the 'nternational Crisis rou( 4'C 5 (ublished a re(ort titled 6Sri 3an2a: Women.s 'nsecurity in the North and 7ast*&+/ The re(ort detailed the (light o- ,omen in the )anni region! sexual violence, tra--ic2ing and ex(loitation o- young ,omen, struggles o- -emale! headed households to rebuild their livelihoods, the climate o- -ear and intimidation ,omen live in, the lac2 o- (sychosocial care -or survivors o- sexual violence and the culture o- im(unity (revalent in the region/ Nearly t,o years on, the issues highlighted in the 'C re(ort remain mostly unaddressed by the overnment and its agencies and, by all accounts, a((ear to have ,orsened/ 8urther, the systematic re(ression o- ,omen.s rights and the callous disregard -or their security also continues to remain under!re(orted by mainstream media in the South o- Sri 3an2a/ Sexual violence against minors A disturbing trend in cases o- sexual violence[3] is the targeting o- minors/ 'n 9ilinochchi and )avuniya, bet,een :anuary and Se(tembder &#"% alone, ,e learnt o- -our cases o- ;!< year old girls being ra(ed by either the military or men -rom the community, highlighting the level o- im(unity in the community and the hel(lessness and o((ression o- ,omen and children living in the North/ 'n =ay &#"%, a ; year! old girl child in Nedun2erny, )avuniya ,as ra(ed*>+,hile on her ,ay bac2 -rom school/ The child ,as (unched, her ear and mouth bitten, and blood dri((ing do,n her thighs ,hen villagers -ound her/ The man ta2en into custody ,as a soldier attached to the Army cam( in 9ana2arayan2ulam, )avuniya/ The (olice had in-ormed the child.s mother and villagers that the soldier had been involved in a ?similar incident. (reviously and ne,s re(orts indicate that the soldier had been released on bail in the earlier case*@+/ While military (ersonnel and those attached to the security a((aratus are

largely shielded -rom conviction or (rosecution -or crimes committed by them, civilian (er(etrators too a((ear to be emboldened by the climate oim(unity in the region/ 'n Se(tember &#"%, a ; year old girl in 9onavil, 9ilinochchi ,as ra(ed by her neighbour, ,hilst another ; year old in :ayanthinagar, 9ilinochchi ,as ra(ed by her brother!in!la,/ The girl had been admitted to the 9ilinochchi Hos(ital/ According to local activists, the (er(etrators in both cases, ,ere bailed out in a matter o- months, and continue to live among the survivors/ 8urther, local activists told us that as many in these communities are also -luent in s(o2en Sinhala, they are able to tal2 their ,ay out o- any serious (unishment -rom la, en-orcement authorities/ 'n &#"&, an <!year!old ,as allegedly gang!ra(ed by a grou( o- -our men in Aanaivilundhaan 49ilinochchi District5/ 'n this case too, the (er(etrators managed to evade serious re(ercussion as the (olice ,ere (aid o-- to reduce the seriousness o- the charges/ The girl ,as later admitted to a hostel, ,here she still resides/ The ra(ists are all -ree no, and no -urther (rogress has been made in this case/ 'n =arch &#"&, a "% year old girl -rom Del-t 4:a--na District5 ,as ra(ed and 2illed by a -ormer 7ADA*B+ cadre*;+/ The accused is still in remand/ On && October &#"%, a Virakesari re(ort detailed the story o- a child ,ho ,as sexually abused by a mon2 at a Children.s Home in )avuniya/ The child, a male, ,ho ,as < ,hen he ,as admitted to the Sethsevana Children.s Home in Attambas2anda, )avuniya in &#"", had revealed that he ,as abused by Attambas2anda 9alyanatissa Thero ,hile -our others ,ould restrain him/ A-ter being re-used visits to her son on a number o- occasions, the child.s mother had com(lained to overnment o--icials and the Aolice a-ter ,hich the child had been allo,ed to leave ,ith the mother in December &#"&/ Com(laining o- (ain during urination, he ,as admitted to )avuniya Hos(ital ,here it ,as revealed that he had been extensively abused/ The mother in her statement says that the mon2 had berated her

in -ilth and threatened her stating that the Army, Aolice and C'D ,ere 6all on his sideC/ The mother and child are no, under the care o- the National Child Arotection Authority in Colombo ,here, it is re(orted, that &; children -rom the said Children.s Home have been brought -or -urther care/ Insecurity due to militarisation Contrary to the government.s claims, the ever increasing (resence o- the military in the Northern and 7astern Arovinces, has only served to disintegrate the social -abric o- the community and exacerbate the battles -aced by the ,omen o- this region/ The s(eci-ics o- a number o- sexual crimes re(orted earlier this year ty(i-y the increasingly violent nature o- such crimes/ 'n August &#"%, a ,oman -rom Aooneryn ,as ra(ed and re(ortedly le-t -or dead by t,o men ,earing 2ha2i (ants and green t!shirts/ One o- the men had sat on her chest ,hile the other had re(eatedly ra(ed her/ A-ter her treatment at the 9ilinochchi Hos(ital, military (ersonnel had escorted her to the local cam( and (rovided her ,ith dry rations/ 3ocal activists had learnt o- the incident only a-ter the ,oman ,as re! admitted to the 9ilinochchi Hos(ital to be treated -or internal bleeding, a month a-ter the ra(e/ 8ollo,ing the attac2, the military had handed over a local -isherman to the Aolice, accusing him o- having committed the sexual assault/ Ho,ever, the nature o- her in1uries indicate that there had been more than one assailant, and the -isherman, currently being held in remand, does not bear the initial descri(tion o- her attac2ers/ 'n &#"#, a &&!year old ,oman -rom )isu,amadu 49ilinochchi District5 ,as gang ra(ed by > military (ersonnel/ As the -emale tenant living in the survivor.s house ,as originally -rom the hill country, she ,as ,ell versed in s(o2en Sinhala and there-ore military (ersons ,ould -reDuent their home and chat to her/ On the night o- B :une &#"#, some o- the military (ersonnel ,ho.d visited their home earlier in the day to stri2e u( a conversation ,ith the elderly tenant had come to their house, intoxicated and ,earing civilian

attire/ They had beaten u( the survivor.s brother/ Having chased the brother out o- the house, the military had dragged her to the bushes nearby and ra(ed the &&! year old/ They had then le-t her there and returned to their base/ As it had been a rainy day, their -oot(rints leading bac2 to the cam( ,ere visible in the mud/ The )isu,amadu Aolice arrested the > men -ollo,ing an identi-ication (arade/ A-ter being held in remand -or B months, they ,ere eventually released on conditional bail/ One o- the (er(etrators didn.t sho, u( a-ter several =agisterial Court hearings and his ,hereabouts are still un2no,n/ The case has no, been committed to the High Court and an indictment has been served/ =ost recently, the decom(osed and mutilated body o- a >; year old ,oman, dis(laced -rom Nelu22ulam 4)avuniya District5 ,as -ound at the tem(le chariot (ar2 site o- the Naachchimaar 9ovil, in the :a--na to,n on ";thOctober, &#"%/ =edical sources in :a--na have con-irmed that she had been gang!ra(ed, had acid thro,n on her and 2illed/*<+ She had been living at the Holy 8amily Convent in :a--na and is re(orted to have been mentally traumatiEed by the ,ar/ She had been re(orted missing since the %rd oOctober this year/ 'n 8ebruary this year Human 0ights Watch 4H0W5 (ublished a damning re(ort*F+ on sexual violence in-licted u(on detainees in custody sus(ected o- being members or su((orters o- the 3iberation Tigers o- Tamil 7elam 43TT75/ The re(ort detailed systematic sexual violence against detainees oboth genders, bloc2ing o- investigations into the cases, absence o(rosecutions o- the (er(etrators and the lac2 o- services to the survivors osuch violence/ The re(ort ,ent on to claim that cases o- sexual violence, torture and ill! treatment 6occurred in military cam(s and (olice stations in the ca(ital, Colombo, and other locations in the south and east -ar -rom any -ightingC*"#+/ 'n a re(ort titled 6Sexual violence in con-lictC*""+ tabled at the eneral

Assembly in =arch &#"%, the Secretary!

eneral o- the GN ex(ressed

concern at sexual violence crimes, sexual harassment and abuse and military (resence in Northern Sri 3an2a/ Ho,ever, he Duoted the overnment o- Sri 3an2a as stating that bet,een :anuary &##; and =ay &#"& only "" incidents o- sexual violence ,ere attributed to military (ersonnel and that legal action had been ta2en against all o- them/ 'n its latest re(ort*"&+ released this (ast ,ee2, the =inority 0ights rou( 'nternational 4=0 5 claims that 6the government is actively contributing to the insecurityC o- these ,omen by 6maintaining the climate o- im(unityC through militariEation o- the north/ =ilitary S(o2esman Hrig/ 0u,an Wanigasooriya -latly denied*"%+ the contents o- =0 and earlier H0W re(orts/ He noted that during the (eriod o- the con-lict 4:anuary &##;! =ay &##F5 seven security -orces (ersonnel ,ere involved in cases o- sexual violence/ During the (ost! con-lict (eriod 4=ay &##F to =ay &#"&5 ten soldiers ,ere involved in incidents o- sexual violence, he added/ Ho,ever, his note made no mention o- the s(eci-ic incidents the soldiers ,ere involved in, or o- the status o- legal or internal disci(linary (roceedings against them/ Sexual harassment of Female- Headed Households The case -rom =ullaitivu, re(orted belo,, is clearly indicative o- the vulnerability and insecurity -aced by ,omen in the )anni, and ex(oses the dire (redicament o- their circumstances/ 'n mid!Se(tember, a "F!year!old girl ,ho ,as ,al2ing home -rom school ,as bloc2ed by a drun2en man ,ho tried to touch her breasts, at ,hich (oint she had hit him ,ith her sli((er and screamed, bringing a village boy to the scene, chasing a,ay the drun2en (redator/ She had then com(lained to her school Arinci(al ,ho had in turn com(lained to the Aolice on her behal-/ The Aolice then sent over a C'D o--icer to inDuire into the matter, only to realiEe that the drun2en man and the C'D o--icer ,ere the same/ She had been scared to tell anyone this, as she has to ta2e the same route to school each day

Another distressing trend is the rise o- late night (hone calls and text messages to ,ar ,ido,s, -emale -ormer combatants and ,ives odisa((eared men and -reDuent visits to their houses by security (ersonnel/ These ,omen com(lained that -reDuent late night (hone calls, usually emanating -rom the local Aolice station, add to the climate o- -ear and insecurity/ The anonymous (hone calls, sexually ex(licit in content, ,ould usually start a-ter Army (ersonnel and intelligence o--icials registered -amily and contact details o- recently returned 'DAs in their locality/ The callers ,ould s(ea2 in bro2en Tamil and (ro(osition the ,omen/ One ,oman, a mother o- three, ,hose husband had disa((eared in =annar in &##<, also s(o2e o- the harassment meted out by her the O--icer in Charge 4O'C5 o- her local (olice station ,ho ,ould regularly ride (ast her house, call her out and attem(t to engage her in conversation about her marital status and relationshi(s, ,hich she deemed highly o--ensive and ina((ro(riate/ 3ocal ,omen.s rights activists told us ho, there are a -e, 'ndian Housing Scheme settlements that have (rimarily ,omen and disabled (ersons as bene-iciaries/ They said that these settlements ,ere (articularly (rone to the-t, crime and (rostitution/ As many o- the -emale headed households have no means o- ma2ing ends meet, they.re driven to sex ,or2/ Such communities are (articularly vulnerable as there are only a -e, able!bodied men living in the community to hel( 2ee( it secure/ Several such settlements in =ullaitivu and =annar are locally 6notoriousC -or sex ,or2 they say, resulting in ,omen residing in these areas being very susce(tible to ex(loitation and harassment/ 'n 9ilinochchi, ,e learnt that several young ,omen had been coerced to marry Army (ersonnel -rom cam(s in their locality only to leave home and return a year or so later/ While activists (ointed out that there ,as very little that could be done to (revent such marriages, they noted that all ,omen ,ho had married Army soldiers ,ere in their late teens/ On t,o such occasions the soldiers ,ere already married/

Alcoholism is yet another signi-icant (roblem in the )anni as many taverns have cro((ed u( due to the high military (resence in the region/ There-ore, the local men in the area have more access to alcohol, and as a result the community has become less secure -or ,omen and children/ 8urther, ,omen in the area told us ho, the military ,ould o-ten give children (assing by money to (urchase alcohol -or them/ They -ear that i- their children are ex(osed to vices such as alcohol at a young age, they ,ould eventually start consuming it too at a young age, ,hich ,ould lead to the -urther deterioration o- the social -abric o- the community/ The 'C re(ort*">+ too highlighted that the gro,ing consum(tion o- alcohol signi-icantly contributed to the rise o- sexual violence and harassment in the region/ This ,as reiterated by the activists ,e s(o2e to/ The abundance o-kasippu 4illicit liDuor5 ,as cited as a ma1or -actor in the occurring o- these incidents/ They -urther noted that Aolice 4,ho are on the (ayroll o- these illicit distributors5, o-ten ,arn (eddlers (rior to carrying out raids onkasippu dens/*"@+ Trafficking for Sex Work Tra--ic2ing and the ex(loitation o- ,omen in the )anni on the (retext o- 1ob o((ortunities in Colombo and the =iddle! 7ast ,ere also re(orted/ Ahone numbers o- 6middle!menC or agents are (rominently dis(layed on buses in rural 9ilinochchi/ The immediate -amily o- an a((licant is (romised 390 &##,### 4(reviously 390 @#,###5/ 'n one case a mother o- t,o -rom Aanaivilundhaan, 9ilinochchi ,as (ic2ed u( in a three!,heeler by one such ?agent./ She had later called home -rom Colombo and then Trincomalee/ She had then been arrested by the 9ilinochchi Aolice on charges o(rostitution/ When ,e called one o- these numbers on the (retext o- (ursuing em(loyment overseas, ,e ,ere told that costs -or obtaining (ass(orts and other relevant certi-icates ,ould be subtracted -rom the 390 &##,### and that the balance ,ould be given to the next o- 2in o- the (erson leaving the

country on ,or2/ We ,ere also given directions to an ?o--ice. in =aradana, Colombo, ,here ,e could meet ,ith an agent to obtain -urther details/ 7arlier this month, a re(ort (ublished by the 'ntegrated 0egional 'n-ormation Net,or2 4'0'N5 stated*"B+ that ,omen -rom the north ,ere -orced to engage in commercial sex ,or2 due to very limited livelihood o(tions/ The re(ort (ut the number o- -emale! headed households at @F,###/ 'n :uly &##F, in a ty(ically angry res(onse*";+ to a Duery (osed on a (rostitution rac2et ,ithin -ormer 'DA cam(s, Aermanent 0e(resentative oSri 3an2a to the Gnited Nations and recently a((ointed Chair o- its Sixth Committee, Dr/ Aalitha 9ohona, rubbished the claims and stated that 6they 4the military5 could have ra(ed every single ,oman on the ,ay i- they had ,anted toC and that 6not a single ,oman ,as ra(edC/ rievances faced !y former female com!atants S(ea2ing to a grou( o- young -emale combatants in their &#.s ,ho live in a sa-e house run by the clergy in the )anni, ,e discovered that as content as they seemed ,ithin the ,alls o- their shelter, they dreaded returning home -or visits, due to the (ossibility o- harassment and Duestioning they might -ace/ 'nitially, as soon as they ,ere released in &#"#, they ,ere sub1ect to strict rules and regulations, such as signing in at the local Aolice station every month, regular house visits by the C'D reDuesting (ersonal and -amily details, and to have to carry around a (roo- o- release letter to (roduce on reDuest at a chec2!(oint or by the (olice/ While they said that these (ractices have seen a reduction recently, their travel ,as restricted and they -elt more secure ,ithin the shelter/

"ontroversy over #o#ulation control im#lants 'n Se(tember &#"%, The Social Architects 4TSA5, in an ex(ose, detailed coercive (o(ulation control in three villages in 9ilinochchi*"<+/ This re(ort and a -ollo, u( re(ort*"F+ in October &#"% con-irmed that the ,omen o)eravil, )alai((adu and 9eranchi o- the 9ilinochchi District had been coerced into acce(ting (o(ulation control im(lants, violating re(roductive and ,omen.s rights/ TSA goes on to say that the ,omen o- these villages ,ere (rovided ,ith very little (ost and (re! im(lant care and in-ormation/ Ho,ever, health o--icials ,ho had met local activists regarding this matter had denied re(orts that this (rogramme ,as directed at controlling the (o(ulation o- any one ethnic community/ 8urther, the o--icials had admitted that the (rogramme ,as not ideally conducted due to their being severely understa--ed and there-ore having to ,or2 ,ith a lo, ca(acity level/ They had added that these ,ere in -act serious administrative concerns that needed to be addressed immediately and that they ,ould carry out the relevant -ollo,!u( ,or2 (rom(tly 4i/e/ to (rint :adelle*&#+ cards in the local language, (rint lea-lets ex(laining side e--ects and (recautions o- using available contrace(tives and create a,areness among the community through Aublic Health 'ns(ectors 4AH's5 and Aublic Health =id,ives 4AH=s5 and to have men also attend Child and =other Care 4C=C5 clinic classes etc/,5 8our years since the end o- the ,ar in Sri 3an2a, ,omen and children remain as, or more vulnerable and insecure than ever be-ore/ With the number o- -emale headed households 4i/e/ ,ar ,ido,s, s(ouses o- the disa((eared and long!term detained, teen mothers and ,ives abandoned by their s(ouses5 and (overty having drastically increased as a result o- the ,ar, so have the grievances and hardshi(s they are made to -ace/ The State has set u( -e, 4i- any5 mechanisms$structures to ensure their security, and have nurtured a climate o- absolute im(unity ,ith regard to ho, it treats (er(etrators, (articularly those directly a--iliated to the State

4i/e/ (olice, military, local authorities5/ $ecommendations 'n light o- this blea2 situation, ,e call on the the 'nternational CommunityI To com(rehensively investigate into all re(orted cases o- ra(e, harassment and murder o- ,omen and children, and ensure that (er(etrators are dealt ,ith according to the la,/ To set in (lace a -ast!trac2 or at least a s(eedy and victim!sensitive system -or dealing ,ith cases o- sexual abuse and violence To ta2e every measure to ensure the (rotection o- ,itnesses and survivors o- sexual abuse and violence and their -amilies 4i/e/ sa-e!houses5/ To (rovide survivors and ,itnesses o- sexual abuse and violence and their -amilies ,ith s(ecialiEed (sycho!social care/ To recogniEe the vulnerability o- ,omen in the North and 7ast and encourage, or at a minimum remove barriers to community!based su((ort grou(s -or ,omen/ To em(o,er survivors o- sexual violence and abuse and their -amilies to attain economic stability and security/ To set u( mechanisms o- monitoring$regulating em(loyment agencies ,or2ing in the North and 7ast, and investigate into all allegations that a nexus exists bet,een the military$(ara!military grou(s and these agencies To build the ca(acity and resources o- local human rights de-enders and ,omen.s rights advocates/ To raise a,areness on issues o- gender based violence and human rights ,ithin local communities, and educate them on (reventive$remedial (rocedures/ To carry out island!,ide a,areness raising media cam(aigns to disseminate in-ormation on organiEation ,or2ing on ,omen and children.s issues/ JJJ 8or longer version o- this re(ort, (lease clic2 here/ *"+ The region re-erred to as )anni in this re(ort includes the entire districts o- 9ilinochchi and =ullaitivu and (arts o- the districts o- )avuniya and overnment o- Sri 3an2a and

=annar/ 't does not re-er to the 7lectoral District o- )anni/ *&+ Sri 3an2a: Women.s 'nsecurity in the North and 7ast/ 'nternational Crisis rou(/ &# December &#""/htt(:$$relie-,eb/int$sites$relie-,eb/int$-iles$resources$8ull K&#0e(ortL>&</(d*%+ Child 0a(e on the rise in Sri 3an2a/ 'nter Aress Service/ &% :uly &#"&/ htt(:$$relie-,eb/int$re(ort$sri!lan2a$child!ra(e!rise!sri!lan2a *>+ : ! HHC Tamil/ "% =ay &#"%/ !htt(:$$,,,/bbc/co/u2$tamil$sriLlan2a$&#"%$#@$"%#@&%Lvavuniaarrest/shtml *@+ Soldier ,ho ra(ed B! year old identi-ied/ Ceylon Today/ "% :une &#"%/ htt(:$$,,,/ceylontoday/l2$"B!%><;"!ne,s!detail!soldier!,ho!ra(ed!B!year! old!identi-ied/html *B+ 7elam Aeo(le.s Democratic Aarty 47ADA5, a -ormer (ara!military grou(, no, acting as a (roxy o- the State/ *;+ =arisa de Silva, The ra(e o- a "% year old and (aramilitary (resence in :a--na M htt(:$$groundvie,s/org$&#"&$#>$#&$the!ra(e!o-!a!"%!year!old!and! (aramilitary!(resence!in!1a--na$ *<+ TamilNet, S3 military blamed -or brutal gang ra(e, murder at :a--na suburb M htt(:$$tamilnet/com$art/htmlNcatidO"%PartidO%B;@< *F+ 6We Will Teach Qou a 3essonC: Sexual )iolence Against Tamil by Sri 3an2an Security 8orces/ Human 0ights Watch/ &B 8ebruary &#"%/ htt(:$$,,,/hr,/org$sites$de-ault$-iles$re(orts$srilan2a#&"%,eb,coverL#/(d*"#+ Sri 3an2a: 0a(e o- Detainees/ Human 0ights Watch/ &B 8ebruary &#"%/htt(:$$,,,/hr,/org$ne,s$&#"%$#&$&B$sri!lan2a!ra(e!tamil!detainees *""+ Sexual violence in con-lict! 0e(ort o- the Secretary! eneral/ Gnited Nations/ "> =arch &#"%/ htt(:$$relie-,eb/int$sites$relie-,eb/int$-iles$resources$N"%&@F>>L#/(d*"&+ 3iving ,ith insecurity: =arginaliEation and sexual violence against ,omen in north and east Sri 3an2a/ =inority 0ights rou( 'nternational/ "; October &#"%/ htt(:$$,,,/minorityrights/org$"&"";$(ress!releases$minority!,omen!in!sri! lan2a!-acing!increasing!levels!o-!sexual!violence!and!insecurity/html *"%+ 3an2a Army re-utes H0 allegations/ DAWN/ "F October &#"%/

htt(:$$da,n/com$ne,s$"#@#>@%$lan2an!army!re-utes!allegations!by!hr! bodies *">+ Sri 3an2a: Women.s 'nsecurity in the North and 7ast/ 'nternational Crisis rou(/ &# December &#""/htt(:$$relie-,eb/int$sites$relie-,eb/int$-iles$resources$8ull K&#0e(ortL>&</(d*"@+ 'n October &#"%, the HHC re(orted ho, o--icers o- micro-inance institutions in the 7astern Arovince sought sexual -avours -rom ,omen ,ho ,ere unable to re(ay loans/ The ,omen, largely -rom resettled communities and rural areas o- the Hatticaloa District, ,ere (rovided ,ith microcredit -or sel-! em(loyment/ 4htt(:$$,,,/bbc/co/u2$tamil$sriLlan2a$&#"%$"#$"%"##&Lmicro-inancebattical ao/shtml5/ *"B+ Turning to sex ,or2 in Sri 3an2a.s north/ '0'N/ "# October &#"%/ htt(:$$,,,/irinne,s/org$re(ort$F<F"F$turning!to!sex!,or2!in!sri!lan2a!s! north *";+ Tamil re-ugees -orced into sex rac2ets/ The Australian/ & :uly &##F/ htt(:$$,,,/theaustralian/com/au$ne,s$tamil!re-ugees!-orced!into!sex! rac2ets$story!eB-rgBnB!"&&@;>>FFBB%F *"<+ Coercive Ao(ulation Control in 9ilinochchi/ The Social Architects/ "% Se(tember &#"%/ htt(:$$groundvie,s/org$&#"%$#F$"%$coercive!(o(ulation!control!in! 2ilinochchi$ *"F+ Above the 3a,: )iolations o- Women.s 0e(roductive 0ights in Northern Sri 3an2a/ The Social Architects/ "" October &#"%/htt(:$$groundvie,s/org$&#"%$"#$""$above!the!la,!violations!o-! ,omens!re(roductive!rights!in!northern!sri!lan2a$ *&#+ :adelle is a brand o- silicone birth control im(lants usually inserted under the s2in o- the u((er arm o- a ,oman/ Posted by Thavam