Groundbreaking UN Resolution 46/1 Paves the Way for Reconciliation in Sri Lanka
March 25th, 2021
A new and landmark resolution concerning Sri Lanka has been adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council. This milestone document offers hope for reconciliation and accountability for victims of Sri Lanka’s 37-year civil war, which ended in 2009. Justice For All Canada upholds the resolution and praises the 22 nations who voted in favour of the decision.
“As a member state, this presents an opening for Canada to reference the resolution when seeking concrete action, investigations and prosecution under international law, and the possibility of referring crimes to the International Criminal Court,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice For All Canada.
This significant shift by the United Nations Human Rights Council demonstrates a victorious opportunity to increase global scrutiny and monitoring of human rights, violations, and crimes against humanity in Sri Lanka. Resolution 46/1 also allows the UN to collect information, evidence and make recommendations on how the international community can take steps towards accountability and justice.
Justice For All Canada welcomes a statement released by Foreign Minister Marc Garneau supporting the resolution, particularly their readiness to “support efforts towards upholding Sri Lanka’s human rights obligations, ending impunity and undertaking comprehensive accountability for all violations and abuses of human rights.”
“We support the resolution’s objectives for reconciliation, particularly at a time when the Sri Lankan Government has shown a complete inability and unwillingness to punish and prosecute perpetrators. After this UNHRC session, we support and fully expect progress around the concerning trend of marginalization and targeting of Sri Lanka’s Muslim minorities,” explained Ghayyur.
Failure of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to address past crimes gives way to warning signs and an increased risk for future violations within an already worsening human rights situation.
UN member states must follow the resolution’s recommendations and immediately impose targeted sanctions on Sri Lankan officials responsible for grave human rights violations.
Justice should also be pursued for international crimes under the principle of universal jurisdiction.
A new and landmark resolution concerning Sri Lanka has been adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council. This milestone document offers hope for reconciliation and accountability for victims of Sri Lanka’s 37-year civil war, which ended in 2009. Justice For All Canada upholds the resolution and praises the 22 nations who voted in favour of the decision.
“As a member state, this presents an opening for Canada to reference the resolution when seeking concrete action, investigations and prosecution under international law, and the possibility of referring crimes to the International Criminal Court,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice For All Canada.
This significant shift by the United Nations Human Rights Council demonstrates a victorious opportunity to increase global scrutiny and monitoring of human rights, violations, and crimes against humanity in Sri Lanka. Resolution 46/1 also allows the UN to collect information, evidence and make recommendations on how the international community can take steps towards accountability and justice.
Justice For All Canada welcomes a statement released by Foreign Minister Marc Garneau supporting the resolution, particularly their readiness to “support efforts towards upholding Sri Lanka’s human rights obligations, ending impunity and undertaking comprehensive accountability for all violations and abuses of human rights.”
“We support the resolution’s objectives for reconciliation, particularly at a time when the Sri Lankan Government has shown a complete inability and unwillingness to punish and prosecute perpetrators. After this UNHRC session, we support and fully expect progress around the concerning trend of marginalization and targeting of Sri Lanka’s Muslim minorities,” explained Ghayyur.
Failure of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to address past crimes gives way to warning signs and an increased risk for future violations within an already worsening human rights situation.
UN member states must follow the resolution’s recommendations and immediately impose targeted sanctions on Sri Lankan officials responsible for grave human rights violations.
Justice should also be pursued for international crimes under the principle of universal jurisdiction.