- Selected for Commonwealth Points of Light Award 2020
By Ravini Perera
Marini De Livera, a child rights activist, human rights lawyer, and Founder of “Sisters-at-Law", a free legal service supporting survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, was recently selected for the Commonwealth Points of Light Award 2020, for her unwavering efforts towards securing a brighter future for the children and women of Sri Lanka.
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"There are approximately 20,000 children in orphanages who suffer all forms of abuse and at 18 years, without any training or support, they are put out on to the street, having to fend for themselves. These are serious issues"[/caption]
Congratulations on your achievement! Tell us a little bit about your recent international recognition. In your opinion, how does the global community view your work?
Thank you! It has been absolutely fantastic to have our efforts recognised internationally and it is gratifying to know that by international standards, they feel there should be more people in Sri Lanka doing this kind of work.
This award has given value and prominence to what we do. I think the global community has acknowledged that we should not be a lone voice in the wilderness and that there should be more who do this kind of work and support similar causes in Sri Lanka.
Do you feel this award is a step in the direction of change?
This is only the first step in a long journey. There is a lot more work to be done and I think children’s rights is a good place to start. It is a cause I feel strongly about. There are approximately 20,000 children in orphanages who suffer all forms of abuse and at 18 years, without any training or support, they are put out on to the street, having to fend for themselves. These are serious issues. When I served as the Chairman of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), I realised that the conditions inside Sri Lankan orphanages are not very good. Orphanages were introduced to our country during British times, starting with girls’ boarding schools. Unfortunately, the same regimental systems of the past persist today.
How would you define volunteerism?
Volunteerism is extending your time, energy, and ideas to make this world a better place. Without merely pointing fingers at the Government and the public servants, you become a proactive problem-solver.
What is your take on volunteerism in Sri Lanka?
In Sri Lanka, volunteerism is unfortunately not the norm. People tend to expect a payment or gratification for the work that they do. However, in other countries, they instill a sense of duty and responsibility towards society in young people from a very early age. People even consider volunteer work after retirement. So, I would say it is a system that is yet to be developed for a more progressive society.
Do you think Sri Lanka recognises or assists civil society organisations when compared to other countries in the world?
In foreign countries, civil society organisations are funded by the Government. They receive support in the form of a building for their work, a salary, or something similar. In Sri Lanka, this is sadly not the case.
Volunteers perform a public function through their work. They may be looking after children, pregnant teenage mothers, domestic violence victims, and also go to court on behalf of them. So I think there should be some form of recognition and support for volunteers, as they too need to employ people, and their work involves financial commitments.
Even in India, the Philippines, and other developing countries, there is a lot of State assistance given to civil society organisations such as ours.
How were you introduced to this field?
My father was a human rights lawyer, so I think I got my theoretical knowledge from him. My mother on the other hand, inspired me through the work she did at the grassroots level. She used to work with people from needy communities, helping them find livelihoods and helping women from broken families. Her work made me realise that sometimes you don’t need to do much. Most often, just listening to a battered woman and letting her know that you care is all it takes to make a change in her life. Growing up in a setting like this had a powerful impact in my life and made me want to make a change in society in a way that I can.
What motivates you to keep giving back to society?
Knowing that there is a need and that there are not many people to do anything about it keeps me going. I think we should think not only of human rights, but also of human duties. Like John F. Kennedy said, we should “ask not what your country can do for you, (but) ask what you can do for your country”. If each of us had a sense of duty, this would be a much better place to live.
Unfortunately, in Sri Lanka, people are not duty conscious. We see university students on strike asking for various things without realising that their education is paid for by the country’s taxpayers, and that they have an obligation to study. We also see this attitude reflected throughout various layers of society.
You plan to continue your mission and work through Sisters-at-Law. What do you mainly focus on through your organisation?
Sisters-at-Law is a registered national charity for women’s rights and human rights in Sri Lanka. Our organisation provides free legal assistance to those in need.
Additionally, we publish booklets about laws in Sri Lanka and distribute them among affected communities to create awareness about their rights; we conduct training programmes for youths, university students, the Police, the forces, and public servants; and we appear in many human rights cases where the rights of individuals have been violated. We also operate a shelter that gives family-based care.
We have realised that only very few people in our country are constitutionally literate. Therefore, in the future, we also hope to publish simplified booklets, in all three languages, that are based on the laws of Sri Lanka, and distribute this material in schools and universities. Also, we hope to use the book “Constitutional and Administrative Law” by Dr. Joseph A. L. Cooray – my father – to create more awareness about the Constitution.
In your opinion, where should the change begin?
I think it should start with our education system. Every university should offer a course covering the human rights component. I believe this would produce graduates who are human rights-conscious, and who contribute to society with a sense of duty and responsibility. Many problems in our society stem from the violation of people’s basic human rights. Unless the importance of human rights is ingrained into our systems, we are not going to take steps in the direction of positive change.
What is the impact this pandemic has had on your work?
During the pandemic, we have been working with an increasing number of domestic violence victims. When children and women are restricted to their homes, and men don’t have a source of income or earnings, there’s a lot of abuse. We are inundated with calls for protection because women and children are being beaten up daily.
Are the authorities doing enough? Are you hopeful that the situation would change?
There is definitely room for improvement. It would be refreshing to see institutions picking up the pace and becoming more committed and efficient in their roles. Furthermore, the law with regard to women’s rights and children’s rights needs to be amended. It would be encouraging to witness more female representation in the decision-making process.
It would also be good to see young professionals joining hands, bringing energy and enthusiasm to the cause, and I am hoping that it will happen in the near future. I am excited to train young minds and impart the knowledge I have acquired over time, so that the next generation would take the torch from me.
If there was better female representation in Parliament, do you think things would change?
I think to create a positive impact, we need to identify people who are committed to bringing about change. For this, we need to handpick and train female representatives before they enter Parliament.
What advice would you give to society, specifically women and children?
Be an empowered person. Be economically empowered, spiritually empowered, and physically empowered. Hold your head up high and have self-belief. Don’t let anyone stand in your way. Realise your self-worth. Know that you have a right to dignity and that no one should be allowed to walk all over you, insult you, or put you down. If you are empowered and realise your self-worth, no one else can belittle you.
