The ICJ today called on the UN Human Rights Council to prepare to take action in March 2014 if the Government of Sri Lanka continues to fail to take concrete steps to ensure justice and accountability.
In response to an oral update of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on her mission to Sri Lanka and the implementation of Human Rights Council resolution 22/1 on promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka, the ICJ expressed deep concern that critical measures on accountability, such as those called for in the resolution, are not being adequately implemented. Noting that the High Commissioner will present a comprehensive report to the Council during the 25th session of the Council in March 2014, the ICJ called on Council members to be ready to act in order to ensure justice and accountability for alleged gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law in Sri Lanka.
The statement was made in a General Debate under item 10 of the Council’s agenda during the 24th regular session of the Council (9 to 27 September 2013).
SriLanka-HRC24-Item10-OralStatementGD-LegalSubmission-2013 (download full statement in PDF)