CAMPAIGNS
SLDF has initiated a number of campaigns over the years. These focused campaigns lead to sustained work by the SLDF Steering Committee, the SLDF chapters and SLDF supporters in addressing critical issues. Many of the campaigns were initiated during the Norwegian peace process, which did not pay adequate attention towards human rights, democratization and an inclusive and just political settlement. With the collapse of the Norwegian peace process and the escalation of the war, SLDF continues these campaigns as important efforts to ensure the concerns of civilians and with a view towards pushing for far reaching constitutional and state reform that addresses the grievances and aspirations of the minority communities in Sri Lanka.
Campaign for Far Reaching Constitutional and State Reform
SLDF has always been of the view that there is no military solution to the conflict and the question of minorities in Sri Lanka. The only way forward is through a just political process leading to reform and restructuring of the state, including substantial devolution of power to the regions and power-sharing at the centre within the framework of a united Sri Lanka. Read more...
Campaign for Minority Rights and a Minorities Consensus
Recognizing the systematic discrimination suffered by the minority communities in Sri Lanka, SLDF is particularly concerned about the violation of group rights of minority communities and the need to address the grievances and aspirations of the minority communities. SLDF will continue to be vocal on the concerns not only of the Tamil community, but also the Muslim community and the Up-Country Tamil community, as the problem of Sri Lanka is one of a majoritarian democracy to the detriment of the concerns of the minorities. SLDF calls for a minorities consensus toward state reform. Read more...
Stop Child Soldiers
SLDF took the lead in calling for an end to the recruitment and use of child soldier. SLDF collaborated with international Human Rights groups and with UN actors in raising awareness around the issue of child soldiers in Sri Lanka. During early years of the peace process SLDF condemned the recruitment of children by the LTTE. In recent years, SLDF has raised concerns about the recruitment of children by the Karuna Faction with the State complicity. SLDF supports the initiatives by the UN mechanisms to address this grave human rights abuse, which is brutalizing a generation of children in Sri Lanka. Read more...
Stop Political Killings
Recognizing that political killings are not only an abuse of the most fundamental of all rights, the right to life, but also that political killings are an attack on dissent, creates a climate of fear and undermines the ability to resolve issues politically, SLDF has opposed political killings by all actors and has called for a robust campaign to end political killings. Democratization and the political culture in Sri Lanka have been significantly affected by such political killings, with the Tamil community in particular facing a number of such killings both by the LTTE and State-linked forces. Read more...
Campaign for UN Human Rights Field Operation
With the escalation of human rights abuses in 2004, particularly by the LTTE, SLDF called for UN human rights monitoring. This call gained further importance with the escalation of human rights violations by the security forces and state-linked actors starting in 2005 and continuing with a culture of impunity taking hold in the country. SLDF believes a human rights field operation under the auspices of the United Nations and with functions of monitoring, reporting and protection could contribute towards the addressing the abuses against civilians. Read more...