being made by law, subordinate legislation or executive action for the advancement of women, children or disabled persons. 2 Article 1 3 Article 2 Handout 2: Culture of violence and GBV Sri Lanka's violent civil conflicts (the armed conflict between the State and the LTTE1 as well as the violent JVP2 led uprisings) in the past thirty years have created a culture of violence as well as a culture of impunity from violence. Women experience armed conflict differently to men. The inequalities based on sex result in women’s unequal access to resources, rights, authority and control over environments. Losing family members who have died, disappeared or missing, becoming heads of households and being displaced and forced by circumstances to live in welfare centres and relocation sites increase vulnerabilities that are unique to women. Increased militarization and resultant environment of abuse of power, and widespread violence of all forms victimizes women in many ways often impelling them into situations of violence. It is said that women in Sri Lanka have become victims of armed conflict in four different ways; direct victims of violence, raped or killed in conflict, become refuges or internally displaced, lost male relatives and find themselves in situations of social and economic disempowerment and have experienced the was as woman combatants and as perpetrators of violence. During conflicts women have also being subject to custodial violence, and by being caught in crossfire and bombardments. While no official figures exist on the numbers of women subject to various forms of violence during conflict, several cases of rape and murder and other forms of violence, especially custodial violence have been highlighted in the media and by women’s organizations forcing State action against perpetrators. The Asian Development Bank Sri Lanka Gender Assessment (2008) notes “Gender Women in these conflict-affected areas have had to bear a disproportionate share of the burden as the survivors and caregivers of their families. Many of these women have been abruptly forced to be female heads of households, responsible for the welfare of their families amid deprivation and instability. In the welfare centers, facilities have been minimal and women have suffered loss of privacy. Communities have been disrupted; infrastructure, such as roads, telecommunications, and markets, and institutions, such as schools and hospitals, have been destroyed; and productive assets have been lost. Women have had to sustain their families without shelter, food, basic services, education, and means of livelihood. The disruption of traditional agriculture and fishing has meant loss of income. All pervasive is the trauma that is the result of violence, including gender-based violence, as well as perceptions of vulnerability and powerlessness.” 1 2 88 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna