Coalition Against Violence Against Women demand:

Justice for Vidhya

A protest against the brutal murder of Vidhya in Jaffna

The Coalition Against Violence Against Women in a statement has urged the law enforcement agencies to end impunity and ensure justice for the young rape victim, Vidhya Sivaloganathan from Kayts.

The statement, endorsed by individuals and organisations, stated that summary justice without due process of law contravenes the rule of law, and acts of violence against courts and law enforcement agencies must not be condoned.

The details revealed from accounts in media surface again a grave situation of breakdown of law and order, and the failure to effectively respond to violence against women and girls. Vidhya, the 18- year- old school girl appeared to have been the victim of a brutal revenge rape by a gang of men of varying ages, after an evening of revelry and partying. This demonstrates clearly how violence against women and girls is perpetrated by men with a sense of impunity.

This brutal conduct is trivialized and even legitimized in environments where liquor and drug abuse at social events is tolerated. The allegations that the police responded to that initial complaint from the family that Vidhya was missing, by suggesting that she had probably eloped with her boyfriend is shocking. Yet, there is evidence from other parts of the country that such a reaction is not uncommon when people seek assistance from law enforcement agencies for acts of violence against women and girls. The men who perpetrated this grave crime clearly felt that they were not accountable for their horrendous behaviour, and could avoid sanctions and punishment, the statement claimed.

The Coalition also expressed dismay that the personal suffering of the victim and her family and community have been ignored by senior opposition politicians who sought to take advantage of the response to this incident in the Northern Province, by alleging conspiracies and threats to national security.

"We appreciate the effort of senior police personnel in preventing breaches of the peace, without further violence, in the tense situation created by the gang rape and murder in Pungudutivu. However this response must be accompanied by other initiatives to create public confidence in the manner in which law enforcement agencies respond to complaints and prosecutions. The lapses that have emerged and have been experienced in other parts of the country, in these cases must be addressed immediately, not just by ad hoc responses like the transfer of police officers, but long term interventions to address the phenomenon of violence against women and girls" the statement added.

The Coalition called upon the Government, the opposition and the judiciary to recognize and address the real issues of breakdown of law and order, impunity, and the widespread legitimization of violence against women and girls in all areas of the country.