On Wednesday, the Core Group of the UNHRC – the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Macedonia, and Malavi – made public a new draught resolution on Sri Lanka (14).
The draught resolution expresses concern over the human rights impacts of the economic crisis, including increased food insecurity, severe fuel shortages, shortages of essential medicines, and reductions in household incomes, while emphasising the need to promote and protect the rights of the most marginalised and disadvantaged individuals, such as daily wage earners, children, older persons, and persons with disabilities;
It expresses concern over other human rights developments since April 2022, including violence against and arrests of peaceful protestors, as well as violence against Government supporters, resulting in deaths, injuries, destruction, and damage to the houses of members of Parliament, and emphasises the importance of independent investigations into all attacks and accountability for those found responsible;
core group concerns
Core Group at the UNHRC expressed concern over the continued militarization of civilian government functions; the erosion of the independence of the judiciary and key institutions responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights; the lack of progress in addressing the long-standing grievances and demands of Tamil and Muslim populations; and the surveillance, intimidation, and harassment of journalists, human rights defenders, families of the disappeared, and individuals involved in the promotion and protection of human rights.
It recognises the persistent lack of independence, impartiality, and transparency of domestic mechanisms, as well as the fact that emblematic human rights cases have been undermined by delays and the granting of Presidential pardons to those accused or convicted of crimes involving grave violations of human rights.
The draft resolution calls on the government of Sri Lanka to address the current economic crisis and help prevent its recurrence, including by investigating and prosecuting corruption, including by current and former public officials, and stands ready to assist and support efforts that are independent, impartial, and transparent in this regard.