ITJP urges UN CAT to conduct an independent investigation

by Sivakami
Nov 14, 2016

The International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) on Monday called on the UN Committee Against Torture "to visit Sri Lanka to conduct an independent investigation into the continued 'white van' abductions, torture and sexual violence committed by the Sri Lankan security forces."

"The ITJP has collected testimony from 36 Tamil victims in three European countries, who have suffered abduction, illegal detention, torture and/or sexual violence at the hands of intelligence and security officers under the Sirisena government," the group said. 

ITJP's executive director, Yasmin Sooka, said, “the international community, including the UN is under an obligation to ensure that the government of Sri Lanka honours its commitments made in the Human Rights Council in regard to the transitional justice programme in Sri Lanka."

“Overlooking the ongoing violations is not doing either the Government of Sri Lanka a favour or the victims, whose suffering should not be swept under the carpet just because of political expediency,” she added. 

See full statement here. 

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