The Challenge

The Reality in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, a disturbing reality exists beneath the surface: between 14-44% of young people experience sexual abuse in childhood [1]. Most know their perpetrator [1], making the decision to speak up even more complex. Of thousands of cases each year, only a small fraction are reported - just 2,266 to police in 2021 [2]. At Emerge, we believe that when a young survivor is brave enough to come forward, they deserve to be embraced by a circle of care and support that enables them to heal, grow, and step into their full potential and power.

The Journey Through the System

When a young survivor does come forward, they face a challenging path. Many enter state-run shelters during court proceedings, which can stretch 5-10 years or more. As of 2021, over 17,000 child abuse cases were pending in Sri Lankan courts [2]. During this time, young people are separated from their communities, education, and support systems.

Impact on Development

Living in institutional care during formative teenage years creates significant challenges:

  • Disrupted emotional and social development

  • Restricted community interaction

  • Few opportunities for building life skills

  • Gaps in mental health support

  • For some children, due to security issues, limited access to formal education

Check out this photo essay, portraying life of children who come forward:

Photos in this section are by Chatrini Weeratunga for the Picture Press Photo Essay, “A Childhood Robbed,” 2014

The Transition Challenge

At 18, survivors face a world they've been sheltered from for years. Imagine stepping out alone for the first time: the confusion of navigating public transportation, the overwhelm of entering a grocery store and trying to understand prices, the complexity of managing money when you've never had a bank account. These everyday tasks, which many take for granted, can feel like mounting obstacles.

Without family support or community connections, these young women must learn to navigate adult life while healing from trauma. Basic needs like finding housing, securing employment, or accessing healthcare become daily struggles in a world they're just beginning to understand.

The Opportunity

Yet these same young women have already demonstrated extraordinary courage by speaking up. This same courage, when supported with skills and resources, transforms into power - power to rebuild their own lives and become powerful agents of change in their communities.

We've seen survivors become business owners, nurses, teachers, and advocates - each one creating ripples of transformation around them. By investing in these brave young women to realize their own visions of change, we're building a movement led by those who understand the importance of justice and healing firsthand.

Together, we can support these courageous girls in becoming the leaders who will end violence in their spheres of influence, creating a world where every survivor finds the support they deserve.

Learn More About Our Approach →

Citations:

1. Rohanachandra, Y., Amarabandu, I., & Dassanayake, P. B. (2021). Child sexual abuse presenting to a teaching hospital in colombo, Sri Lanka. European Psychiatry, 64(S1), S631–S632. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9479798/

2. UNICEF Sri Lanka (2023). An Assessment of Routine Data Collection Gaps in the Justice For Children Sector in Sri Lanka and recommendations on Improving Systems and Addressing Gaps. https://www.unicef.org/srilanka/media/4111/file/Justice%20for%20Children%20Report%20Final.pdf