EU calls for international participation in accountability process

The European Union (EU) today called on the Sri Lankan Government to ensure international participation in the accountability process related to the war.

The EU made the statement at the 32nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva today.

Roderick Van Schreven, the?Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands said that?Sri Lanka is still at the beginning of a long process.

“Much remains to be done to fulfil the commitments it has made at this Council and we urge the Government to fully comply with these commitments, including those relating to reconciliation, justice and accountability. It will be essential for the Government to conduct and facilitate consultations which are inclusive (also from a gender perspective) with all affected communities as it goes about establishing new mechanisms for truth-seeking, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence. International participation in the accountability mechanism will also be important in ensuring that the process is both credible and perceived as such by all sides in line with the October commitments,” he said.

The EU urged the Government to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act as a matter of priority and abide by the National Human Rights Commission’s directives on its implementation.

“We also call on the Government to continue taking steps to build the confidence of communities and normalize life in the North and East, including accelerating the prosecution or release of detainees, preventing and prosecuting sexual and gender based violence committed by members of the security forces, removal of the military from involvement in civilian activities, and returning the remaining land to its rightful owners,” the Ambassador said.

He said that Sri Lanka has come a long way through the Human Rights Council and the EU confirms its readiness to continue to support the Government in the full implementation of resolution 30/1. (Colombo Gazette)