Centre for Justice and Change

31ºC Trincomalee | April 17, 2025 

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About Us

Responding to the call to re-build the lives of the people destroyed by the Tsunami waves on 26th December 2004 in Sri Lanka, particularly in Trincomalee District, the Society of Jesus  (Jesuit Fathers) in Sri Lanka established a number of service centers to provide the needed assistance to the affected people. Fr. V. Yogeswaran S.J. who is also an Attorney at Law was appointed as Director to guide the relief and rehabilitation work. The people were provided with new houses, repairs done to damaged houses, provided with livelihood materials, educational support was provided for the students and emergency relief provided for affected people in temporary shelters.        

While the unfinished Tsunami relief continued, in 2006 the civil war broke out between the LTTE and the Government in Trincomalee which moved over the years towards the North and finally ended with the defeat of LTTE at Mullivaikkal in May 2009. Foreseeing the many issues that may arise due to the war, it was decided to make the Tsunami service center a permanent social service center. 

The new center was established carrying the name  “Centre for Promotion and Protection of Human Rights” (CPPHR). During this period of war, the District experienced a variety of issues and provided support to the war victims of the many faces of war.CPPHR engaged with IDPs, families of the enforced disappearances, the arrest and detained persons, families of the extrajudicially executed, war widows, injured persons in war, rehabilitated prisoners etc providing them with legal and other support. CPPHR received financial assistance from USAid, AJWS, NED and few Church related organizations.

In 2015, CPPHR placed its hope in the newly established Government to usher peace in the country, worked among the people on Transitional Justice issues through meaningful participation till 2018 for peace and reconciliation among communities. In 2018, the Jesuit Fathers decided to concentrate on educational ministry and with mutual understanding the Bishop of Trincomalee accepted CPPHR and with the company registration the name was changed to Centre for Justice and Change and functions under the patronage of the Bishop of Trincomalee.

VISION

“To recognize the inherent dignity and of equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family, and commit to strife for fundamental freedoms, justice and peace in Sri Lanka.”

MISSION

“The realization of this vision is to be achieved through Promoting Human Rights, Justice, Peace, Reconciliation & Networking with likeminded Associations and persons”

Key Objectives

  1. To create legal and human rights awareness among communities with free legal assistance.
  2. To provide humanitarian and development aids to the poor and marginalized.
  3. To promote pluralism, peace, unity and reconciliation among communities through a culture of non-violence.
  4. To promote civil, socio-economic and cultural rights.
  5. To promote and protect ecology and environment.
  6. To engage in advocacy in and through local, national and international avenues for promotion and protection of human rights.

Milestones and Key achievements

1
Free Legal Counseling, Legal Clinics and Court Representations for affected vulnerable victims

2
Over these years, Completed the Human Rights Education programme for more than 25 batches of Youths and social activists and initiated and Completed the para Legal Education programme for 03 batch of students (40 youth in one batch)

3
Supported more than 700 families with livelihood packages affected by war and by natural and man-made disasters 

4
Intervened and created awareness among vulnerable communities on the process of Transitional Justice for reconciliation in the Eastern and Northern Province in the midst of political unrest.

5
Supported and Conducted many awareness programs on RTI law and its use to counter corruption in Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts.

6
Reporting to UN respective bodies (special rapporteurs) on HR violations happening in the country for Human Rights advocacy purposes.

7
Supported the efforts of the diplomatic community for reconciliation by participating at meetings organized by them for civil societies.

8
Conducting programmes for Strengthening the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Social Activism

9
Provided Educational supports for war affected children

10
Compiled a Statistical documentation on Land encroachments and other land related issues in Trincomalee district for advocacy purpose.

11
Produced documentary films to highlight HR violations on thematic issues such as enforced disappearances, war injured disability, extrajudicial executions, religious intolerance, torture and on land encroachment in the Trincomalee district.

12
Provided support and prepared a secondary legal leadership at CJC and formed lawyers who will support future activities of CJC. Currently 5 such Attorneys are with CJC.

13
Implemented Relief and rehabilitation operations coupled with trauma counseling during Tsunami disaster and the civil war among internally displaced people (IDPs) in the Trincomalee district.

14
Publications of legal booklets in Tamil medium and distributed for needed and potential stakeholders.

Our Donors

  • National Endowment for Democracy –NED
  • American Jewish World Service (AJWS)
  • UNHCR
  • USAid – SuRG
  • UNOPS
  • MISEREOR
  • Neelan Thiruchchelvam Trust – NTT
  • National Peace Council (NPC)
  • USAid – SPICE
  • USAid – IDEA