By UCA News reporter
SRI LANKA – Hundreds of Catholic nuns in Sri Lanka took to the streets on Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, to call on the government and other groups to protect the rights of unwed mothers and abuse victims.
The nuns from Good Shepherd congregation, wearing their religious habits, carried white boxes as they rallied Mar 5 to collect donations to support victims of rape, abuse, child marriage and unwed mothers.
Sister Rosary Perera, head of the Ave Maria Convent near St Peter’s Church in Negombo, a Catholic stronghold near the national capital Colombo, said the rally was part of a national campaign by her religious order.
“We are organizing this local fundraising campaign across all 12 dioceses, supported by nuns and a few lay people, to care for orphaned children and unwed mothers, aiming to uplift the lives of women and girls in mortal danger,” Perera told UCA News Mar 5.
Many people generously donated money to support those in need.
A rape victim from Badulla city, who received support from the nuns said the nuns fill voids for abuse victims with protection and care.
“The nuns advise victims not to have abortions but give the children to them. They help parents besides the victims. They encourage those who seek abortion to contact them first,” said the victim, a Hindu, who declined to reveal her identity.
“When an underage girl is raped and becomes pregnant, the rapist often escapes, while the girl faces rejection from her family, community, and society, with some resorting to sex work or suicide,” she said.
“Due to the dedication and support of the compassionate and understanding nuns, both the mother and child are given a new chance at life,” she added.
Between 800 and 1,000 abortions take place in the country daily despite abortion being illegal, media reports say.
The Sri Lankan Penal Code criminalizes abortion except for cases when the mother’s life is at risk.
However, many women, especially victims of sexual abuse, often seek abortion illegally with the help of medical doctors, to escape the social stigma related to rape and children born to unwed women.
Thousands of women and children are raped each year, and many cases go unreported as outdated laws and societal norms fail to protect victims, according to Equality Now, an organization tracking violence against women and girls.
Sister Priyangani Hathurusinghe, principal of Ave Maria Convent, sent a letter to the parents of her students recently, urging them to make generous contributions to support their mission for the poor, needy, and destitute.
“As you are already aware the Convent at Nayakakanda attends to a variety of their needs such as caring for abandoned children, to uplift the lives of women and girls in mortal danger and many others. In order to carry out these works of charity, we need your financial support and help,” the nun’s letter read.
George Dias, a businessman from Negombo who donated cash to the nuns, praised their mission, saying that it serves all religious communities.
“Their call for action transcends religious boundaries, with the nuns not only raising awareness but also seeking practical support to provide unwed mothers and children from traumatic situations with safe spaces and a better future,” he said. – UCA News
