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People for Equality and Relief in Lanka (PEARL) called the recently adopted resolution on Sri Lanka a "step in the right direction" but noted that the it could have been "stronger and more critical" of the Sri Lankan state.
In a statement reacting to resolution 51/L1, the organisation said:
"The Sri Lankan state’s consistent failure and refusal to ensure acceptable accountability for past and ongoing crimes should have resulted in a stronger and more critical resolution with explicit mention of the grievances and demands of the Tamil people, and their ongoing calls for international accountability mechanisms."
"Furthermore, the resolution has failed to address Sinhala-Buddhist nationalism as the root cause of the conflict and ongoing instability on the island, and the need for a sustainable political solution for the Tamil people," it added.
The resolution calls for the extension and reinforcement of the capacity of the Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) to "collect, consolidate, analyse and preserve” evidence that may be used in future war crimes trials which PEARL highlighted was "an important development towards justice."
The US-based advocacy organisation also expressed their concerns over the "heavy focus" on Sri Lanka's economic crimes.
"Stakeholders must not undermine the Tamil victim-survivor community’s decades-long efforts and engagement with the Council by using the economic crisis to discourage Member States from supporting the resolution, or to deflect from the root causes of the current crisis," PEARL added.
PEARL called on the UN and member states to "dedicate resources to building cases against, investigating, and prosecuting alleged perpetrators for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide" and "take meaningful and decisive steps" beyond the UNHRC to hold Sri Lanka accountable for it's human rights abuses.
Read their full statement here.
