A group of international non-governmental organisations have called on the UN Human Rights Council to establish “an international accountability mechanism on Sri Lanka,” warning that there have been “indicators of a significant backsliding on human rights” on the island.
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Forum Asia, CIVICUS, Franciscans International, International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR), International Service for Human Rights and Minority Rights Group International all delivered a joint statement in Geneva last week, highlighting Sri Lanka’s “failure of past domestic reconciliation and accountability mechanisms and the ongoing compromise of the rule of law”.
“Since November 2019, the Ministry of Defence has been assigned as the oversight body for NGOs, significantly increasing the risk of their surveillance,” the organisations told the Council. “More than a dozen human rights and media organisations have received intimidating visits from law enforcement and intelligence agencies, while death threats against journalists have resumed. The climate of fear has returned to Sri Lanka, in particular among those who continue to call for truth, justice and accountability. Relentless campaigns against minorities also require immediate attention.”
“We urge this Council to hold Sri Lanka accountable to its obligations under international law,” the statement concluded. “We call on the Council to establish an international accountability mechanism on Sri Lanka.”
See the full text of the statement here.
