Prior to the signing of the Indo-Sri Lankan Peace Accord on 29 July 1987, there were numerous allegations of the rape of Tamil women by the Sri Lankan security forces. In most instances, these alleged rapes appear to have occurred in the context of large-scale military operations against Tamil militants in which villagers became the victims of excesses committed by Sinhalese soldiers. [ D.B.S. Jeyaraj, "Sri Lanka: A Time of Troubles," in Frontline, (Madras: The Hindu, 23 March - 5 April 1985), pp. 33 & 44.]

Immediately following the signing of the Accord, allegations were made about the molestation of Tamil girls by members of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF). These allegations increased during the IPKF's "mopping up" operations after it had successfully taken control of the LTTE stronghold of Jaffna in October 1987. [ William Maclean, "Civilians Risk Gauntlet of Guns to Flee Tamil City," in The Globe and Mail, [Toronto], 26 October 1987; Amnesty International, Amnesty International Statement on the Situation in Sri Lanka With Respect to the Return of Tamils to Sri Lanka (London: Amnesty International, 1988), p. 2; , Sri Lanka: A Review of Alleged Human Rights Abuses (London: Amnesty International, 1988), p. 11.] In December 1987 a local magistrate reportedly found IPKF personnel guilty in seven cases of rape and in January 1988 an Indian court-martial sentenced four Indian soldiers to one year in prison for raping Tamil women. [Ibid., p. 11.]

William Maclean, "Civilians risk gantlet of guns to flee Tamil city", Globe and Mail (26 October 1989)

Amnesty International, Amnesty International Statement On The Situation in Sri Lanka With Respect To The Return of Tamils to Sri Lanka (London: Amnesty International, 1988), p. 2.

, Sri Lanka: A Review of Alleged Human Rights Abuses (London: Amnesty International, 1988), p. 11.