Human Rights Watch (HRW) reiterated the need for international action in Sri Lanka to ensure justice for rights violations, after the extension of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution on Sri Lanka, which focuses on collecting evidence that could be used in future war crimes trials.
HRW underscored the importance of the resolution in addressing both past atrocities and ongoing violations in Sri Lanka.
“The Human Rights Council’s resolution on Sri Lanka is important for efforts to uphold fundamental rights in the country and to seek justice for past atrocities,” said Lucy McKernan, Deputy Geneva Director at Human Rights Watch.
“International action is needed in Sri Lanka so long as victims and their families are denied justice. The new government of President Dissanayake should reveal what happened to thousands of victims of enforced disappearance, end security agencies’ harassment of victims and human rights defenders seeking justice, and open credible investigations into alleged crimes that were blocked by previous governments.”
The resolution was passed without a vote on Wednesday, despite the continued opposition of the new Sri Lankan government earlier today.
Read more: UN resolution on Sri Lankan war crimes collection passes without vote despite government opposition