During a meeting held at the Police Headquarters (HQ) on 9 December between Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana D. Wickramaratne, senior Police officials and representatives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer/questioning (LGBTIQ) organisations, IGP Wickramaratne apologized for the longstanding harassment faced by the LGBTIQ community at the hands of the Police.
The meeting, organised jointly by the Ministry of Women, Child Affairs, and Social Empowerment and the Police, discussed the way forward towards treating all human beings equally and without discrimination.
During the meeting, the LGBTIQ community representatives and their respective attorneys-at-law (AAL) highlighted various incidents of degrading treatment faced by the LGBTIQ community including physical and sexual harassment. A report compiling such incidents and the laws affecting this minority community was also handed over to the IGP by iProbono, the latter an organisation which provides counsel with a team that delivers strategic direction and execution, while also leveraging the expertise and commitment of a wide community of pro bono lawyers.
The IGP, in an attempt to end discrimination and violence, appointed a Woman Deputy Inspector of Police in Charge of the Prevention of Abuse of Children and Women to interact between the Police and members of the LGBTIQ community during any complaints or violations faced.
The Police legal team noted that a circular is being drafted to be issued to all Police stations with regard to the treatment of the LGBTIQ community and when handling their complaints in the future.
The Police Media Division issued a press release on Monday (12) titled “The discussion held with the LGBTQ community representatives and their AALs at the Police HQ”. The release read: “On 9 December, a discussion was held at the Police HQ with the participation of IGP Wickramaratne and the Secretary to the Ministry of Women, Children’s Affairs, and Social Empowerment, with the representatives of several organisations appearing on behalf of the LGBTQ community and their AALs regarding the prevention of difficulties faced by the LGBTQ community while interacting with the Police.
“Senior Police officers and officers of the Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment participated in this discussion. Various opinions were expressed regarding the issues and difficulties faced by the LGBTQ community when interacting with the Police for certain matters pertaining to their daily activities. The Police paid special attention to transgender persons, and IGP Wickramaratne took the decision to appoint the Woman DIG in Charge of the Range for the Prevention of the Abuse of Children and Women to take measures in this regard, after maintaining co-ordination and to appoint the Senior DIG – Administration to act directly on behalf of the IGP. Further, the DIG in Charge of the Legal Range was given the necessary instructions to extend the necessary support.”
(The author is an AAL and Project Officer at EQUAL GROUND, which is a non-profit Organisation seeking economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights for the LGBTIQ community of Sri Lanka.)