Civil war leaves Sri Lankan woman vulnerable

Sri Lanka’s long-running conflict was brutal for its women.

More than 80,000 are said to have been widowed in war-affected areas of the island nation.

The peace that came with the end of the civil war has brought little discernible improvement to their lives.

The situation is especially bad for young women, who told Al Jazeera about rapes and sexual exploitation – in some cases by government officials and the military.

Steve Chao was granted special permission to report in the still sensitive area of northern Sri Lanka.