Freedom from Torture welcomes UN resolution to keep pressure on SL

Freedom from Torture welcomed the decision by the UN Human Rights Council to keep the human rights situation in Sri Lanka under review for a further two years, a statement from the organization said.

The resolution adopted today with the support of the Sri Lankan government recognises the need to keep pressure on the government to fully deliver the commitment they previously made on reconciliation, accountability and human rights.

Tania Baldwin-Pask, head of international advocacy at Freedom from Torture said that the government of Sri Lanka has given the international community important commitments to end impunity, deliver justice and build institutions to uphold human rights. " The Human Rights Council’s decision to keep the human rights situation under scrutiny helps maintain pressure on the government to fulfil its promises,"

In 2016, Sri Lanka was the top country of origin for torture survivors referred to Freedom from Torture for clinical services and medico-legal reports for the fifth consecutive year. These referrals include survivors of torture who have been detained since the current government took office in January 2015.

Freedom from Torture has also identified a significant number of people who report being tortured on their return to Sri Lanka from the UK. In his report to the Council, the High Commissioner for Human Rights called on states to ensure that Tamils who have suffered torture and other violations are not returned to Sri Lanka until relevant guarantees are in place to ensure that they will not be subject to further violations.

The human rights situation in Sri Lanka has been reviewed recently by a number of independent experts and bodies at the UN. These include the Special Rapporteur on torture who visited the country in 2016 and concluded that “a culture of torture persists”. The Committee against Torture also reviewed in November 2016 and expressed its concern at allegations of the routine use of torture.