IGLHRC mourns the loss of Sunila Abeysekera, a visionary feminist and leading human rights activist from Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sunila's contributions to human rights created an everlasting legacy.

In her own words:

"As women’s rights activists, we know very well the extent of discrimination and violence suffered by women who dare to remain unmarried, who do not bear children, who bear children outside of marriage, who seek, obtain and assist in abortions, who take responsibility for families and households in the absence of male family members, who wear their hair short, and who otherwise violate gender norms. Each of these cases involves women who challenge the heteronormative framework that teaches us from a very early age that women should marry men, be faithful, be good housewives, never refuse sex with their husbands, bear children, care for the household, and express a particular model of femininity, with no consideration of the physical, emotional and psychological cost for women." — [Equal and Indivisible handbook for writing CEDAW Shadow reports, IGLHRC, 2009]

May you rest in Peace, Sunila.

New York Times: Sunila Abeysekera, Sri Lankan Human Rights Activist, Dies at 61