New UNHRC resolution provides for judicial action in member states against SL

• An informal session on the resolution was conducted in Geneva on September 23
• The resolution also seeks to mandate the UNHRC to reinforce the capacity  of the OHCHR, for  evidence gathering and analysis

By Kelum Bandara   

The latest draft of the UNHRC, if adopted, will seek to support judicial proceedings in member states regarding human rights violations and accountability issues of Sri Lanka .  

An informal session on the resolution was conducted in Geneva on September 23.  
The resolution also seeks to mandate the UNHRC to reinforce the capacity of the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), for evidence gathering and analysis.  

“Recognizes the importance of preserving and analysing evidence relating to violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes in Sri Lanka with a view to advancing accountability, and decides to extend and reinforce the capacity of the Office of the High Commissioner to collect, consolidate, analyse and preserve information and evidence and to develop possible strategies for future accountability processes for gross violations of human rights or serious violations of international humanitarian law in Sri Lanka, to advocate for victims and survivors, and to support relevant judicial and other proceedings, including in Member States, with competent jurisdiction,” the resolution says .  

It requests the OHCHR to increase monitoring and reporting on the situation of human rights in Sri Lanka, including on progress in reconciliation and accountability, and on the human rights impact of the economic crisis and corruption, and to present oral updates to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-third session and fifty-fifth sessions, and a written update at its fifty-fourth session and a comprehensive report that includes further options for advancing accountability at its fifty-seventh session, both to be discussed in the context of an interactive dialogue. 

• It requests the OHCHR to increase monitoring and reporting on the situation of human rights in Sri Lanka