Marking International Women's Day, Global Tamil Forum (GTF) called for an international inquiry, to provide justice and accountability for Tamil women for the widespread sexual violence faced during and after the final stages of the armed conflict, and the on-going "sustained assault" endured by them in the North-East.

Pointing to the "militarisation of Tamil areas in Sri Lanka since the end of the war in 2009, by state security forces who are almost entirely ethnically Sinhalese" the GTF outlined the on-going sexually violence and insecurity faced by Tamil women at the hands of the Sri Lankan military.

"A culture of impunity exists and many women are afraid to report cases of intimidation and ill-treatment to the authorities."

The GTF celebrated the "courage and resolve" of women in the North-East who are acting as agents of change, highlighting the work done by Northern Provincial Councillor Ananthi Sasitharan and the Women's Action Network (WAN) in the North-East.

"Groups such as Women’s Action Network (WAN) - a collective of 11 women's organisations from the North and the East – have played a key role in highlighting the abuse suffered by women, particularly Tamils coerced into joining the army. Their work has helped to illuminate issues that are often ignored by the mainstream media."

"Individuals are making an impact too. The Northern Provincial Councillor, Ananthi Sasitharan, representing the Tamil National Alliance, has been at the forefront of calls for truth and justice regarding cases of enforced disappearances and abductions at the hands of the military. By seeking to give a political voice to thousands of Tamil war widows, she has faced constant intimidation from the security forces and was threatened with a period of incarceration in a ‘rehabilitation facility’ earlier this year."

See full statement here.