Lawyers for a larger cause

Sisters-at-Law, the free legal service supporting survivors of domestic and gender-based violence marks three years of yeoman silent service this month. Its founder Marini de Livera recaps its journey while urging more women lawyers to become change-makers.

by Randima Attygalle

“I have realized more and more that the right to access justice is a privilege enjoyed by the rich and the affluent of our society. Law is something that is discussed by the elite in air-conditioned offices and never reaches out to the communities. The poor and the down-trodden have no one to advise them when facing oppression and injustice. The Law is beyond their reach,” observes human rights lawyer Marini de Livera, the founder and the Chairperson of Sisters-at-Law, a free legal service supporting survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. De Livera’s efforts have been honoured with Commonwealth Points of Light Award in 2020 and Women of Courage (2019) from the US Department of State.

This former Chairperson of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) remarks that to bring about change, social justice and make the country and the world a happier place, there is no need to hold a top Government position or be highly connected. All that’s needed is “imagination, a vast amount of energy and unlimited passion.” As a legal academic De Livera saw the futility of Human Rights education within the confines of a classroom. “Without actually experiencing and listening to the stories of survivors, it is impossible to be an instrument of change and find solutions to problems that plague society, especially Human Rights violations. Thus, Sisters-at-Law (SAL) was born in August, 2018 to create awareness about the laws and policies relating to Human Rights and to promote activism through forms of art,” says the human rights trainer (for the army, police, public officials, and grassroots level leaders) who has also been a member of the Steering Committee on the Rehabilitation of Child Soldiers, the Prisons Reform Committee, and the National Committee on Women. De Livera also chaired the committee that drafted the amendments to the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act.

During the three years since its inception, SAL had represented survivors of violence in a number of pro bono cases from the Magistrate’s Court to the Supreme Court says its founder. Referrals are made by the courts and the Police to SAL which not only provides free legal representation but also empowers survivors. Located in Battaramulla within her legal chambers, D

e Livera has provided SAL with an inviting atmosphere where victims of violence can unwind, have a hot drink or a warm meal and decide on how they should proceed.

Filling the need for long term support for survivors, SAL has expanded to offer educational programmes, skills training and income generating activities beyond lodging facilities. Guided by people-centric and strength-focused principles, once a girl or a woman is admitted to a SAL’s shelter, she is asked what her dream is and a ‘Care Plan’ is prepared for each to realize her dream aligned with SAL’s belief that all girls and women deserve an opportunity to find their voice and potential while being able to live a dignified, peaceful and a happy life. “Based on the Care Plan we allocate funding by raising our own funds and also appoint a ‘Care Manager’ who ensures that all steps in the Care Plan are adhered to and the Senior Management reviews the Care Plan,” explains De Livera.

Largely self-funded, SAL finds it challenging to sustain its activities. “Initially we had two shelters, one in Colombo and the other in Galle. Due to lack of funds, we were forced to close down the Galle shelter,” says De Livera. A woman whose road has never been easy, she calls herself ‘unstoppable’ and is in the process of setting up SAL’s own dress making business to help more women and girls in need. A gifted artist and a Licentiate teacher in Speech and Drama from Trinity College London, De Livera uses art as a therapeutic means of healing and empowering survivors. She has her own street theatre group, with her own bird mascot Bindoo that travels around the country performing plays related to human rights issues.

Although the Prevention of the Domestic Violence Act of 2005 speaks of the need for shelters for victims of violence, there is still a dearth of them in the country, notes De Livera. Such shelters should not however be ‘prison-like’ unhappy places but ‘peaceful and safe heavens’ where survivors could take informed decisions relating to their future and train and empower themselves to function on their own, contribute to society and become productive citizen, she adds. Networking with members from the medical profession, religious leaders, psychologists and clinicians, educators, business sector etc. is imperative to build a support system for the survivors, observes SAL’s founder.

Urging young women lawyers to be change-makers, De Livera also says that they need more role models. “They also need to be sensitized and at SAL we make it happen in our own little way. We hope to train a pool of legal experts in all fields who can also represent the marginalized in court.” She reiterates that women lawyers need to be proactive to ensure that the concept ‘Women’s Rights are Human Rights’ become a reality. “Sri Lanka signed the CEDAW Convention in 1981. Yet to date no domestic law has been passed by our Parliament incorporating Women’s Human Rights enshrined in CEDAW into Sri Lankan Law. Women lawyers should advocate and lobby for law reform.” The Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Act which was passed in 2015 provides for compensation to victims of a crime. However, the Victims’ Authority does not have a Fund to be used for this purpose, charges De Livera who goes on to remark that women lawyers should be trained to identify these issues and agitate for their realization.

Making a case for girls and women whose abuse is rampant and whose only option should not be to become a domestic worker, the activist lawyer calls fellow women to rally around to empower them at grassroot level. “There are graduates employed at every Divisional Secretariat. They function as representatives of all Cabinet Ministers in the capacity of Child Protection Officers, Women Development Officers and Probation Officers. In certain parts of the country these officers have prepare a document known as a ‘child vulnerability card’ that assesses the danger every child is exposed to.”

She also maintains that schools should work with the NCPA and the Probation Department and detect and track if school drop-outs are trafficked to Colombo and other cities by unscrupulous agents to earn money out of them. “Systems are already in place – it is only a matter of implementing them. Women lawyers in this country can be the driving force to advocate for the implementation of policies and laws,” concludes De Livera.

If you wish to support or rally around
Sisters-at-Law, write to helpsistersatlaw@gmail.com