By Renewing UNHRC Mandate Vital to Combat Abuse and Impunity in Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan government continues to oppress families seeking justice for their loved ones who have disappeared, as reported by Human Rights Watch. These families face ongoing harassment, including surveillance, intimidation, false charges, violence, and arbitrary arrests by security forces.
On August 29, 2024, a court in Trincomalee sided with the police in banning a procession by these families, which was planned for August 30 to observe the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearance.
According to Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, the pain of not knowing the fate of their missing relatives is worsened by the state’s efforts to silence them. Many mothers and wives have died without learning the truth, while others fear they may never see justice.
Sri Lanka has one of the highest rates of enforced disappearances globally, especially during the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna insurgency (1987-1989) and the civil war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (1983-2009). The Sri Lankan government has consistently failed to reveal the fate of the disappeared or prosecute those responsible, leading the United Nations to call for international action.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk highlighted ongoing abuses, including surveillance, intimidation, and violence against journalists, activists, and families of the disappeared. He also noted cases of abduction, arbitrary detention, torture, and sexual violence by Sri Lankan security forces.
Human Rights Watch found that families of the disappeared continue to face abuse, including police harassment and false charges. Many are pressured to accept compensation, fearing this will close their cases without further investigation.
The UN Human Rights Council, along with concerned governments, should act on the UN high commissioner’s recommendations, including prosecuting alleged perpetrators, imposing sanctions, and renewing the UNHRC mandate to ensure continued monitoring and accountability for human rights violations in Sri Lanka.
Ganguly emphasized the need for global support for the families of the disappeared, as the Sri Lankan government persists in denying justice and exacerbating their suffering.
