Amnesty International notes the lack of progress on a number of human rights issues highlighted in the first review four years ago, and has raised these concerns in a submission to the UPR.
While the government of Sri Lanka has defeated the LTTE, it has failed to implement commitments to enhance human rights protections and to account for past violations.
It has yet to repeal oppressive anti-terrorism legislation which is used to justify abusive practices including arbitrary detention and restrictions on freedom of expression. A lack of witness protection laws and continued lack of independence of the National Human Rights Commission had added to a culture of impunity for human rights violations.
Amnesty International continues to receive reports of enforced disappearances, torture and other ill-treatment in detention, which the authorities refuse to investigate. Security forces’ use of arbitrary arrests and detentions have targeted members of armed groups, political opponents and journalists.
Further information:
- Amnesty International spokespeople will be present in Geneva observing the UPR session and are available for interviews.
- Link to Amnesty International’s submission on Sri Lanka to the UN Universal Periodic Review, October-November 2012:http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA37/008/2012/en/5747cec0-7e77-486f-9859-9623ee127b20/asa370082012en.pdf
- The Sri Lanka UPR session on 1 November at 14:30 CET will be live streamed here:https://www.un.org/webcast/unhrc/index.asp
- Amnesty International will put out a statement with a reaction following the review of Sri Lanka, and take part in a civil society debriefing in Geneva on 2 November.
- On 5 November at 16:15 CET in the Press Room of Palais des Nations, Amnesty International, Action Contre la Faim and the International Commission of Jurists will co-host a press conference in Geneva. Dr Manoharan, whose son Ragihar was shot dead by Sri Lankan security forces in 2006, will also be present at the press conference.
