Sarala Emmanuel has a MA in Development Studies from the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Women’s Studies from Colombo University and a BA from the University of Bangalore. She is a development practitioner and researcher based in Eastern Sri Lanka. Her work has been with local women’s groups focussing on women’s right to development, responding to violence against women, responding to challenges of civil and political rights of communities living in conflict and post disaster contexts. She also has worked with psychosocial and child protection services for children at risk, especially documenting examples of good practice and conducting research on service gaps.