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STORY: OHCHR / SRI LANKA HUMAN RIGHTS
TRT: 2:55
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH /NATS
DATELINE: 24 FEBRUARY 2021, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND/ FILE
24 FEBRUARY 2021, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Wide shot, Palais Wilson
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“Nearly 12 years after the end of the armed conflict, domestic initiatives have repeatedly failed to ensure justice for victims and promote reconciliation. Despite commitments made in 2015, the current Government, like its predecessor, has failed to pursue genuine truth-seeking or accountability processes. The impact on thousands of survivors, from all communities, is devastating. Moreover, the systems, structures, policies and personnel that gave rise to such grave violations in the past remain – and have recently been reinforced.”
3. Zoom out to pan right, Palais Wilson
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“Our report highlights disturbing trends over the past year, which warn of a serious deterioration in key areas.”
5. Zoom out, OHCHR seal on the gate
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“The independence of the judiciary, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, the National Police Commission and other key bodies has been deeply eroded by the recently adopted 20th Constitutional Amendment. The growing militarisation of key civilian functions is encroaching on democratic governance. The continued failure to implement comprehensive reforms – or to vet personnel – leaves in place security and military officers who have been implicated in alleged grave crimes and violations.”
7. Zoom out, Palais Wilson
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“In other words, long-standing, structural and systemic issues persist in Sri Lanka, and now there are clear warning signs that past patterns of violations could be repeated.
9. Zoom out, OHCHR seal on the gate
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“Successive Government commissions have failed to credibly establish truth and ensure accountability. Indeed, the Government has obstructed investigations and judicial proceedings into emblematic human rights cases.”
11. Zoom in, Palais Wilson
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“The Government has largely closed the door on the possibility of genuine progress to end impunity through a national process. For these reasons, I call on the Council to explore new ways to advance various types of accountability at the international level.”
13. Zoom out, Palais Wilson
Introducing her report on Sri Lanka to the UN Human Rights Council, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said “nearly 12 years after the end of the armed conflict, domestic initiatives have repeatedly failed to ensure justice for victims and promote reconciliation."
Bachelet said the impact of the conflict on thousands of survivors from all communities is devastating. Her report highlights disturbing trends over the past year, and warns of a serious deterioration in key areas, and the UN Human Rights chief called on the international community to “explore new ways to advance various types of accountability at the international level, for all parties.”
The High Commissioner said the independence of the judiciary and other accountability bodies has been “deeply eroded” following a recent constitutional amendment and said the Government has largely closed the door on the possibility of genuine progress to end impunity.
She stated that long-standing, structural and systemic issues persist in Sri Lanka, and now there are clear warning signs that past patterns of violations could be repeated. Sri Lanka’s 26-year-long civil war with the Tamil Tigers ended nearly 12 years ago.
