“We Lost Everything”: UN Report Slams Sri Lanka Over Systemic Failure to Address Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

By Lions Roar News Human Rights Desk

GENEVA / COLOMBO (January 14, 2026) — A scathing new report from the United Nations Human Rights Office has revealed that conflict-related sexual violence in Sri Lanka constitutes a “grave violation of international law,” accusing successive governments of a decade-long failure to provide justice for survivors.

The report, titled “We Lost Everything – Even the Hope for Justice,” is the culmination of ten years of intensive monitoring. It paints a grim picture of a “legacy of impunity” where both male and female survivors continue to suffer in silence while perpetrators remain unpunished.

⚠️ Key Findings: A Decatde of Neglect

The UN document highlights that sexual violence linked to the conflict is not just a dark chapter of the past but a lingering trauma that continues to shape the lives of survivors today.

Ongoing Violations: The report notes that sexual violence remains a persistent issue, with many survivors forced to endure their trauma in silence due to the lack of safe reporting mechanisms.
Judicial Failure: There is currently no effective legal or judicial structure in Sri Lanka dedicated to providing justice specifically for conflict-related sexual crimes.
Public Acknowledgment: The UN emphasized that the Sri Lankan government has failed to publicly acknowledge the extent of these abuses, which is a critical step toward national healing.

⚖️ The Call for Transformative Reform

The UN Human Rights Office has urged the Sri Lankan government to move beyond rhetoric and implement “transformative reforms” immediately.

“The lack of accountability, acknowledgment, and reparations for severe human rights violations and wartime crimes has created a legacy of impunity that continues to haunt survivors.” — UN Human Rights Report Excerpt

The report outlines several mandatory steps for the government:

Establish a Legal Framework: Create a robust legal structure to prosecute conflict-related sexual violence.
Protect Victim Dignity: Ensure that any judicial process prioritizes the dignity and safety of the survivors.
Domestic Accountability: Advance local accountability measures to restore faith in the national justice system.

🕊️ A Legacy of Impunity

The report concludes that for many survivors, the loss of “hope for justice” is the most profound injury of all. It calls on the international community to keep pressure on Sri Lanka to ensure that the victims’ long wait for redress finally ends.