She was only 29. A daughter, a sister, a woman, until that one fateful December night in 1999 during the Civil War, when she was dragged from her home, sexually assaulted, and murdered. Her only “crime”? Being a woman in a place where fear spoke louder than justice. Her story shook the nation for a hot minute, but like many others, she became just another headline, another name we whisper and forget.
Violence against women isn’t just history. It’s happening right now. Somewhere in the world a young girl or woman is being tortured, silenced or shamed for the actions she takes, or simply just for existing. On November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we’re reminded that this isn’t just another overlooked issue.They are symptoms of a system that still doesn’t value women as much as it should.
Cases of violence against women are never ending. For many, it’s not just a headline or a statistic; it’s a lived experience. According to the UN, nearly 1 in 3 women worldwide have been subjected to physical or sexual violence, and the picture isn’t all that different in Sri Lanka. Reports of domestic violence and sexual harassment continue to rise both officially and unofficially, but the number of survivors reaching out for help is shockingly low. It’s isn’t because of a lack of resources or hotlines or professionals, but purely due to the impunity, shame and social stigma of what it is to be a woman. Women are afraid of judgement, of gossip, of being told to “keep it on the down low”. Women have always assumed a very traditional role in Sri Lankan society; to be a good wife and mother, but lately this definition has slowly twisted into a quiet tolerance for disrespect. Even with the rise of the feminist movement, women are associated with a very particular social stigma. Not just one – the stigmas are one too many.
It’s almost like women can never get it right. Too loud, too quiet, too bold, too shy. There’s always a “too” attached. Society has built an invisible checklist for how a woman should look, speak, and behave, and whether she dares to step outside it, or not, she’s met with ridicule instead of respect.
It starts with words, but it never ends there. The constant criticism and disrespect create a culture where mistreatment is normalized. And when disrespect grows unchecked, it turns into something darker: violence. No woman should ever have to live in fear, be silenced, or be punished simply for existing the way she is.
The UN defines violence against women as “any act of gender – based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.” Just how many acts of violence does that definition alone contain?
However, the world has not stayed silent. With the designation of November 25th as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, there has been much action taken by world organizations as well as society in general to raise awareness and stop violence against women. From the suffragettes who fought for the right to vote, to icons like Malala Yousafzai, and Maya Angelou, feminist movements have risen from pain to power. More women are speaking up for themselves and others, paving a safer path for generations to come, and reminding us that feminism isn’t about superiority; it’s about survival and the simple right to be treated as human. The UNiTE campaign has declared the 25th of each month as “Orange Day”, orange representing hope and a future free from violence against women and girls – a day to raise awareness and take action to end violence against women and girls.
Change starts with how we react, how we speak, and how we listen. It’s in the way we should raise our sons to respect boundaries and our daughters to know theirs. It’s in the way we call out harassment instead of laughing it off. Awareness is the first step, but action is what truly makes a difference. So wear your brightest orange t shirt and let’s build a world where women don’t have to be brave just to be safe world where safety isn’t a privilege, but a right.
Written By: –
Rtr. Lisari Kahandage
(Junior Blog Team Member 2025-26)
Design By: –
Rtr. Pravena Rajkumar
( Junior Blog Team Member 2025-26)
