Sisters at Law steps in to help women and children
Marini de Livera
Instead of her mother waking her up with a glass of milk, 10-year-old Kamala* found herself in an orphanage being kicked awake every morning. Although both her parents were alive, Kamala was in an orphanage because her mother Samanmali* was facing a prolonged court case. Samanmali had been trafficked from her hometown in the Eastern Province to Colombo, where she was forced to work as a sex worker. Kamala’s biological father was a married man who was one of her mother’s “clients”.
Accused of theft, Samanmali was in dire straits, her profession also not boding well for her case. As there was no one able to look after Kamala she was sent to an orphanage where her treatment left much to be desired.
After her case was taken up by Sisters at Law, Samanmali was helped in many ways. The case was dismissed and she was granted custody of Kamala. Sisters at Law also arranged for Samanmali to be taught sewing and other self-employment skills and she now is able to provide for her daughter. In her new environment, Kamala swims, cycles, plays with the next door neighbour (a girl her age) and lives in a home filled with her mother’s love, furthering her dream of becoming an English teacher by taking English classes. Her grades at school have improved greatly and she is now happier than she has ever been.
Kamala and Samanmali’s story is one which portrays the vital role the law can play in someone’s life.
This is where Sisters at Law comes in. Sisters at Law was founded by Marini de Livera in mid-2018 to help women and children made vulnerable by issues such as domestic violence, human trafficking etc. by offering them free legal services. Marini began the charity after her stint as Chairperson of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) came to a rather abrupt end and she needed a way to continue helping the children (and mothers) she was working with. “After I left, they would tell me about their plight and ask me to help and I just couldn’t say no,” she explains.
Sisters At Law runs mostly through the efforts of volunteers and charges no legal fees from clients. The organization operates across Sri Lanka. Marini’s work at Sisters at Law has been already recognised – she was named a recipient of the 2019 International Woman of Courage Award awarded by the US Department of State.
Located in Battaramulla, Sisters at Law has helped with some complex legal cases in the relatively short time it has been operational. There is a safe house for women out of Colombo where abusive spouses cannot find them, residential facilities for child victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence and other similar residential facilities. There is also work being done to educate people of their legal rights. Sisters at Law works with female prisoners to improve their rights. The colourful tale of ‘Bindoo bird’- a booklet containing a story written and illustrated by Marini herself to promote child rights, is an example of the work the organization does to raise awareness.
Marini feels that the legal system needs to be changed in order to help people. “Our profession can be rather mercenary and no one is taught to work from the heart when they are taught law,” she says. She hopes that people will volunteer more and help those in need. “Just volunteer one day of the week, or just help in at least a small way and it can make such a difference,” she says. She is hopeful that she will get more volunteers and take the law to the people through Sisters at Law.
Sisters at Law will be hosting a Sing-along to raise funds for a Language Centre in Hikkaduwa which offers training and art therapy for youth. The sing-along will be held on August 30 at Monarch Hotel Thalawathugoda. Please visit the Sisters at Law Facebook page https://m.facebook.com/Sisters-at-law-360538501168880/ for tickets and further information.
*names have been changed to protect privacy