Written statement submitted to the UN Human Rights Council: Challenges to Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) in Sri Lanka in 2014
25 February 2015 2:02 pm
In 2014 Sri Lankan human rights defenders (HRDs) faced a number violations as enumerated below. A new government is in place after elections in January 2015 and it has made some positive commitments on investigating past reprisals against HRDs and journalists. Despite some such positive signs it’s not clear yet if the culture of impunity in the Country will be reversed. The UN Human Rights Council and Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) should closely monitor the actions of the new government in Sri Lanka and require it to implement its commitments and end impunity.