Ranitha Gnanarajah
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Ranitha Gnanarajah (
Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia ** Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nati ...
: ரனிதா ஞானராஜா) is a
Tamil Sri Lankan Sri Lankan Tamils ( or ), also known as Ceylon Tamils or Eelam Tamils, are Tamils native to the South Asian island state of Sri Lanka. Today, they constitute a majority in the Northern Province, live in significant numbers in the Eastern P ...
human rights activist and lawyer. She has been widely praised for her efforts in advocating for the rights of victims of enforced disappearances and those detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Ranitha has been known to have provided free legal assistance to prisoners detained without charge. She received the prestigious
International Women of Courage Award The International Women of Courage Award, also referred to as the U.S. Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award, is an American award presented annually by the United States Department of State to women around the world who have ...
in 2021 coinciding with the
International Women's Day International Women's Day (IWD) is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8 as a focal point in the women's rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against wom ...
during a virtual event conducted by the United States Secretary of State. Gnanarajah also served as the Head of the Legal Department of the Centre (CHRD). She pursued her career as a lawyer in 2006 at the Home for Human Rights. She has also done research on domestic violence and highlighted the loopholes and deficiencies at the police stations in Sri Lanka. Her research indicated that the majority of the cases which were filed by women who attempted to seek self protection from harassment had been impeded. She has also been conducting social awareness campaigns which influenced increased access to women's shelters and counselling services.


References

{{International Women of Courage Awards, state=collapsed Sri Lankan human rights activists Sri Lankan women activists Sri Lankan women academics Sri Lankan women lawyers Year of birth missing (living people) Recipients of the International Women of Courage Award Living people 21st-century Sri Lankan lawyers 21st-century women lawyers