New Government urged to make progress on accountability, institutional reforms — Global Issues
The country is in the midst of a severe economic crisis that has severely affected the human rights of all communities.
This has raised the demand for deeper reform and accountability, giving authorities a new opportunity to navigate a new path forward, said reportwhich calls for a national dialogue to promote human rights and reconciliation.
Essential changes needed
However, for sustainable improvements to take place, it will be vital to recognize and address the underlying factors that have contributed to the crisis. These include punishment for past and present human rights abuses, economic crime and widespread corruption.
“Fundamental changes will be required to address current challenges and to avoid a repeat of past human rights abuses,“The report said.
It calls for immediate action from the Government, is encouraged to end reliance on draconian security laws and suppress peaceful protests, and reverse course towards militarization.
Officials should also show renewed commitment and implement security sector reforms and end sanctions.
The government’s tough approach
While security forces have recently shown considerable restraint in the face of mass protests, the report notes that the Government has taken a tougher line by arresting several Taoist student leaders. law on the Prevention of Terrorism and the violent suppression of peaceful protests.
In addition, the severely militarized environment and culture of surveillance also continue in the north and east of the country.
The UN human rights office called on the new Government to restart what it called “a comprehensive and victim-centered strategy for transitional justice and accountability”.
The central role of the victim
The strategy should include a time-bound plan to deliver on outstanding commitments, including taking steps towards establishing a credible truth-finding mechanism and a especially special court.
Victims must also be given a central role in the design and implementation of all accountability and transitional justice mechanisms.
The report also noted the lack of progress in determining the truth about the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, in which more than 200 people were killed in a series of explosions at churches and hotels.
The human rights office calls for an independent and transparent investigation, with international support and the full participation of victims and their representatives.
Attract other countries
“The state of Sri Lanka, including successive governments, has consistently failed to pursue an effective transitional justice process to hold perpetrators of serious human rights abuses and abuses accountable. accountability and protection of victims’ rights to truth, justice and redress,” the report states.
“Instead, they created political obstacles to accountability, and actively promoted and brought in certain military officials with credible links to the alleged war crimes. highest levels of government.”
In the absence of progress on accountability at the national level, the report urges other countries to cooperate in accountability efforts, including by using available avenues of extraterritorial jurisdiction. territorial and universal, to investigate and prosecute crimes under international law in Sri Lanka.
States should also consider further measures targeting those believed to be trusted to have been responsible for serious violations and abuses of international human rights law or for serious violations of international humanitarian law. .
