PILPG Circle of Former Ambassadors to the UN Human Rights Council Releases Statement in Support of Transitional Justice in Sri Lanka

July 20, 2022

The Public International Law & Policy Group, an ECOSOC-accredited NGO, convened a Circle of Former Ambassadors to the United Nations Human Rights Council, a group of several former Ambassadors to the Human Rights Council, including two former Presidents of the Council - Ambassador Joachim Rucker (2015) and Ambassador Vojislav Suc (2019).

While expressing strong support for its progress towards orderly transition, durable peace, and democracy, the Circle remains deeply invested in transitional justice and accountability issues. Many members served as Ambassadors to the Human Rights Council in 2014 when the Council adopted Resolution 25/1 on promoting reconciliation, accountability, and human rights in Sri Lanka. This Resolution, and the subsequent investigation into abuses and violations of human rights by both parties in the Sri Lankan civil war, aimed to establish the facts of the violations and ensure accountability. The investigation resulted in a High Commissioner for Human Rights report advocating for hybrid special courts. The Circle reiterates its support for the HRC’s decision in Resolution 46/1 from March 2021 to strengthen the capacity of the Office of the High Commissioner to collect, consolidate, analyze, and preserve information and evidence of abuses of human rights and related crimes and advocate for victims and survivors.

In light of the new phase of political transition and economic crisis, the Circle urges all responsible parties in Sri Lanka to reaffirm their commitment to transitional justice. Substantial strides must be taken towards accountability for human rights violations committed during the Sri Lankan civil war.

Click here to read their statement, which urges the international community to prioritize accountability for gross human rights violations, consequences for flagrant breaches of international law, and justice for all affected populations.