Nimalka Fernando
Nimalka Fernando is a lawyer and social activist. She is the president of the International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR) and the Women’s Forum for Peace in Sri Lanka. Nimalka is also an active member of Mothers and Daughters of Lanka, a diverse coalition of women’s organizations in the country. They have launched many campaigns against political violence and violence against women. Most recently, they are working towards increasing political representation of women to bring the voice of women and the idea of gender equality into the public realm.
Despite the end of the armed conflict with the Tamil Tigers in 2009, strict security laws are in force and the situation for HRDs working on enforced disappearances, torture and land rights remains critical. HRDs seeking accountability for violations committed by both parties to the conflict face serious risks, including death threats, smear campaigns, judicial harassment, torture, enforced disappearance and killing.
