Inside Justice: Experiences of Human Rights Defenders in Addressing Domestic Violence at the Community Level

Domestic violence is one of the most prevalent forms of human rights violations in Sri Lanka, and it prevents many women from actively engaging in civic spaces. This study captures the lessons learned and experiences gained by the local organizations working within their communities as part of the Inside Justice: Empowering Human Rights Defenders in Addressing Domestic Violence Against Women in Sri Lanka Project. The Asia Foundation’s Sri Lanka office, in partnership with Women In Need (WIN), implemented this project between 2023 and 2025 with funding from the European Union.  

The project engaged more than 200 Human Rights Defenders from 28 local organizations— including civil society and women’s rights organizations—across all 25 districts of Sri Lanka. The study examines how they respond to domestic violence through three key dimensions: the types of services provided, the approaches adopted, and the outcomes achieved, providing findings and insights of great value to development practitioners, other human rights defenders, service providers, and others involved in responding to domestic violence. 

To obtain a copy of the report, please send a request to: [email protected]