UK MP calls on Britain to play leading role at UNHRC following destruction of Mullivaikkal monument

by Sharmini
Jan 12, 2021

 

Siobhain McDonagh, Labour MP for Mitcham and Morden, called on Britain to play a leading role in the upcoming United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session during a Global Britain Debate in UK Parliament today. 

McDonagh drew attention to the demolition of the Mullivaikkal memorial at Jaffna University, describing it as "an act that completely undermines the process of truth, justice and accountability." 

The MP urged the UK government to ensure that a new resolution is agreed upon at the UNHRC session in March. 

McDonagh called for: 

"A resolution that will maintain human rights monitoring via the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); a resolution that will mandate a mechanism to gather, preserve and analyse evidence for future investigations and prosecutions that build on the work of previous UN investigators and a resolution that will call upon the OHCHR to prepare a report on options for international action for the promotion and protection of human rights, justice and accountability on Sri Lanka."

McDonagh also wrote to the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to express her "strong concern" after authorities destrtucted the Mullivaikkal memorial monument on January 8 and asked the High Commissioner what urgent representations they will be making to the Sri Lankan government. 

Read the full letter here. 

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