Freedom from Torture statement on the High Commissioner for Human Rights update on Sri Lanka

Freedom from Torture welcomes the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights update on Sri Lanka this week and urges the Human Rights Council members to continue to call for full implementation of the government’s promises on accountability alongside political reform.

Ann Hannah, International Advocate and Researcher at Freedom from Torture, said:

“History teaches us that failing to address war crimes is not just letting down survivors of that conflict, it also undermines the future of the country. We welcome this statement by the High Commissioner which provides a thoughtful update on the measures that the government has taken, which should be acknowledged, but it also calls on the government to deliver, without further delay, measures to build confidence amongst victims and minority communities.

“At Freedom from Torture we have reported on instances of torture since May 2009 and earlier this year highlighted cases which have been referred to us of torture since President Sirisena came to power in January 2015. When coupled with mixed messages from the President on his commitment to implementation of the Human Rights Council Resolution, this destroys the fragile confidence survivors have in the government’s desire to deliver political settlement and security for communities across the country.

“We have repeatedly expressed our concern at government statements that accountability for torture and other human rights abuses does not require international involvement and we are particularly pleased to see the High Commissioner’s reiteration of the need for the involvement of international judges, prosecutors, investigators and lawyers in a judicial mechanism. The government has said that it is capable of delivering justice but this fails to understand the need to build trust and, as the High Commissioner highlights, international involvement is a necessary guarantee of the independence and impartiality of the process in the eyes of victims."

The High Commissioner is updating the UN Human Rights Council this week on Sri Lanka’s delivery of Resolution 30/1, agreed by the government last year, which promises a comprehensive package of measures to deliver accountability and reconciliation. Since the Resolution was passed the government has repeatedly sent contradictory messages about its commitment to implementation. In an interview earlier this month with the Sri Lankan Sunday Times the President went as far as saying that the pressure from the international community to probe war crimes allegations had “ceased” and “All countries have turned out to be friendly.”

This sends a devastating message to survivors about the commitment of the government to delivering justice and reconciliation. The High Commissioner’s report calls on the Sri Lankan government to increase its efforts in building confidence amongst survivor communities inside and outside the country and urges greater action to deliver on human rights.

He also calls for continued scrutiny by the Human Rights Council and reiterates the importance for all Sri Lankan’s to rally behind the process. We strongly welcome his reiteration that full implementation is essential to address historic human rights violations and to ensure that robust messages are sent that there will be “no tolerance for practices of the past”. This is important to build trust among survivors and end the culture of “total impunity” which was also highlighted by the Special Rapporteur on Torture when he visited Sri Lanka last month.