Colombo: Many survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) carry their experiences in silence for years, sometimes even decades. Fear, stigma, trauma, and the lack of safe pathways to seek justice or support often make it feel impossible to speak out.

According to UN Women, Sri Lanka, the organization produced two short films that explore the lasting impacts of CRSV through quiet, personal stories. The films focus on what often remains unseen: hesitation, silence, memory, and the lasting impact of trauma on survivors and their families.

These films remind us that the impact of conflict-related sexual violence cannot be measured only by the moment in which the violence occurred, says Ramaaya Salgado, UN Women Sri Lanka Head of Office. For survivors, its consequences can continue through fear, stigma, silence, and the structures and social norms that shape their everyday lives. By bringing these often-unspoken experiences into public conversation, the aim is to foster greater understanding, challenge
harmful assumptions, and reaffirm the collective responsibility to ensure that every survivor, regardless of gender, is treated with dignity and has access to safe, survivor-centered support.

The first film follows a woman as she carefully writes down her testimony after learning about an opportunity to formally document her story. As she reflects on her past, fear and uncertainty begin to surface, illustrating the difficult choices many survivors face when deciding whether to speak about their experiences. Her story is a reminder that silence is not the absence of a story; it is often the result of fear, trauma, and the weight of lived experience.

The second film challenges another often-overlooked reality: CRSV affects people of all genders. Through the eyes of a young man who discovers an old family photograph, the film gradually reveals the hidden trauma carried by his uncle, a male survivor of CRSV. As he begins to understand the subtle ways trauma shapes his uncle’s everyday life, the film highlights
not only the long-term impact of sexual violence but also the silence surrounding male survivors. Harmful stereotypes about masculinity, shame, and fear of disbelief often make it even harder for men and boys to disclose their experiences or seek support.

Ruvin de Silva, Filmmaker of Long Story Short, states that these films were never about showing the violence itself. The focus was on what stays with someone afterwards-silence, hesitation to speak, and memories that surface in ordinary moments. This restraint gives the stories more weight, leaving space for people to sit with what survivors may continue to carry, long after the conflict itself has ended.

Together, the two films demonstrate that CRSV’s effects can linger for years, affecting survivors’ well-being, relationships, and families across generations. They also remind us that survivors are not defined by age, gender, or background, and that responses to CRSV must recognize and support all survivors with dignity, respect, and compassion. Addressin
g CRSV requires more than just accountability; it requires creating environments where survivors are treated with dignity, their voices heard and respected, and their experiences are neither ignored nor forgotten. It also requires confronting and dismantling militarized power structures, patriarchal social norms, and inequalities that enable such violence, sustain impunity, and continue to silence survivors.

These films invite reflection not only on what is spoken but also on what remains unspoken, highlighting the collective responsibility to ensure that no survivor has to carry their story alone.