Calculated attack on civil liberties around the world - Amnesty International

There is currently a calculated vicious attack on civil liberties around the world and a resurgence of a "global authoritarian project" in which institutions of government are facing a sustained wave of attacks day in, day out, Deprose Muchena, Senior Director at Amnesty International (AI) said. 

He made the comments while taking part in the South Asia regional launch of AI's Annual Report for 2022 in Colombo on the state of human rights around the world.  

"We are also seeing an attempt to distort the truth, an attempt to blame outsiders. We are seeing an attempt to mobilise and socialise religion, and we are seeing scapegoating that is going on around the world," he further stated. 

“As South Asia sits on the brink of a volatile and unpredictable future, it is important now, more than ever, to keep rights squarely in the centre of all negotiations and conversations,” Mr Muchena stressed. 

The failure of global and regional institutions – hamstrung by the self-interest of their members – to respond adequately to global conflicts, climate change and global energy and food crises has disrupted an already weak multilateral system, Amnesty International noted in its annual assessment of human rights around the world. 

In the section related to Sri Lanka, AI states that the government intensified its crackdown on dissent as thousands of people protested against the dire economic situation. "The rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly came under fierce attack by law enforcement agencies, which at times used unlawful force leading to deaths and injuries. Protesters were arbitrarily arrested, detained using draconian counterterrorism legislation, and illtreated in custody."

Meanwhile, serious human rights violations committed during the internal armed conflict remained unaddressed, while families of people forcibly disappeared continued to seek truth and justice.

"Amendments to the Prevention of Terrorism Act failed to address key human rights concerns, and Muslims and Tamils continued to be targeted under the ActThe rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly came under fierce attack by law enforcement agencies, which at times used unlawful force leading to deaths and injuries," the report further noted.

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