In this series of papers, the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) looks at legal and policy reform needed to address Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). CPA identifies several areas in which the statute books need to be updated in order to ensure that the safety and dignity of women are protected, but also it is recognised that legal reform alone cannot fully address these needs, and it must be coupled with broad policy reforms in order to bring about real change.
The series consists of 4 parts.
Part I examines existing laws that need reform, and why law reform in this area has been slow. It includes broad policy reforms aimed at making the Criminal Justice System more victim centric. The full document can be downloaded here.
Parts II, III and IV examine the need to introduce specific laws for the criminalisation of online sexual violence, female genital mutilation and vitriolage respectively, together with policy reforms aimed at addressing issuing arising in those specific areas.
Download the full document for Part II, Part III and Part IV in English.
Sinhala translations are available here: Part I, Part II, Part III and Part IV.
Tamil translations are available here: Part I, Part II, Part III and Part IV.