International participation in Sri Lanka's accountability process necessary reiterates UN Human Rights Chief
An advanced version of the High Commissioner for Human Right’s oral update released on Monday, called on Sri Lanka's government to take concrete “steps to address impatience, anxiety and reservations towards the process,” noting that “international participation in the accountability mechanisms would be a necessary guarantee for the independence and impartiality of the process.”
The High Commissioner Zeid Al Hussein went on to stress in his conclusion that “continuing allegations of arbitrary arrest, torture and sexual violence, as well as more general military surveillance and harassment, must be swiftly addressed, and the structures and institutional culture that promoted those practices be dismantled, to show there will be no tolerance for practices of the past.”Noting Sri Lanka's constitutional reform process, Mr Hussein stressed that he hopes, "the political process of adopting constitutional changes will not involve trade-offs and compromises on core issues of accountability, transitional justice and human rights."
The high commissioner highlighted further concerns regarding a rise of "aggressive campaigns in social media and other forms that stoke nationalism against ethnic, religious and other minorities."
The oral update stressed that ongoing “encouragement and support of the Human Rights Council has been crucial in giving assurance and confidence to all stakeholders, particularly the victim community.”
