Facebook icon
Twitter icon
e-mail icon

Rapporteur report on Sri Lanka must serve as ‘catalyst’ – Amnesty International

The damning findings of a UN Special Rapporteur report on Sri Lanka, which criticised the lack of progress on accountability and routine torture on the island, “must serve as a catalyst for wholesale changes” said Amnesty International.

Responding to the preliminary findings of Ben Emmerson, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism on Friday, David Griffiths, Amnesty International’s Senior Advisor on South Asia, said Sri Lanka must make changes.

“From forgotten prisoners languishing behind bars for years without trial, to whole communities targeted for persecution and harassment, to endemic torture, this report must serve as a catalyst for wholesale changes,” said Mr Griffiths.

“This must start with repealing the Act and replacing it with legislation that meets international human rights standards. And, if the country is ever to truly move forward, those responsible on all sides for serious violations must be brought to justice.”

See more from Colombo Gazette here.

We need your support

Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. Tamil journalists are particularly at threat, with at least 41 media workers known to have been killed by the Sri Lankan state or its paramilitaries during and after the armed conflict.

Despite the risks, our team on the ground remain committed to providing detailed and accurate reporting of developments in the Tamil homeland, across the island and around the world, as well as providing expert analysis and insight from the Tamil point of view

We need your support in keeping our journalism going. Support our work today.

For more ways to donate visit https://donate.tamilguardian.com.