Sri Lanka gets two years to implement 2015 UNHRC resolution on ethnic reconciliation

The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has unanimously given Sri Lanka two years’ extension to implement the September 2015 resolution on ethnic reconciliation and accountability for alleged war crimes.

As per the new timetable fixed on Thursday, the High Commissioner for Human Rights would give a written update to the council at its 37th session in March, 2018, and a comprehensive report at the 40th session in March, 2019.

Among other things, Resolution 30/1 of September, 2015, called for the establishment of a judicial mechanism having foreign as well as Sri Lankan judges and prosecutors. Though Sri Lanka had co-sponsored that resolution as well as Thursday’s follow up, it has not agreed to have a 'hybrid' court with foreign judges also.

Making this clear after the resolution was passed on Thursday, the Sri Lankan representative Dr Harsha de Silva said that Sri Lanka is striving “to establish a Sri Lankan Government-led processes with international assistance, engagement and support.”

He made no mention of a 'hybrid' court with foreign judges, though the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid and the US representative William J Mozdzierz had stressed the need for it. Before the resolution was passed, de Silva said that Sri Lanka would accept “foreign expertise”, not foreign judges.

Thursday’s brief resolution welcomed the positive engagement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the High Commissioner and the Office of the High Commissioner since October 2015, as well as the relevant special procedure mandate holders. It encouraged the continuation of that engagement in the promotion and protection of human rights, truth, justice, reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka.

It requested the Office of the High Commissioner and relevant special procedure mandate holders, “in consultation with and with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka”, to strengthen their advice and technical assistance on the promotion and protection of human rights and truth, justice, reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka.

It requested the Office of the High Commissioner also to continue to assess progress on the implementation of its recommendations and other relevant processes related to reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka, and to present a written update to the Human Rights Council at its 37th session (in March 2018), and a comprehensive report followed by discussion on the implementation of resolution 30/1 at its fortieth session (March 2019).