Establish a Special Judicial Mechanism; UN High Commissioner Volker Türk

10-Sep-2025

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Pointing out before the Council that Sri Lanka now has an opportunity to heal and recover from the scars caused by past violations, violence, and entrenched impunity, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stressed that the Sri Lankan government must establish a special judicial mechanism with the participation of an independent special prosecutor to address cases related to human rights violations and crimes against international humanitarian law committed over past decades.

The 60th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council commenced in Geneva on September 8. Delivering his remarks at the opening session at 12:15 p.m. Geneva time (3:45 p.m. Sri Lanka time), the High Commissioner presented the contents of his written report on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka.

He observed that Sri Lanka now has a historic opportunity to heal and move forward from past violations and violence, and from a legacy of impunity, emphasizing that there is now a chance to ensure justice and accountability. He further noted that during his recent visit to Sri Lanka, the government pledged to take unprecedented new measures, which must be translated into concrete action and properly implemented.

Highlighting the importance of accountability and justice for building lasting reconciliation and peace, Türk said that during his visit he witnessed first-hand that people affected by past violations continue to suffer. 

He referred to complaints he heard during his visit to the Chemmani mass grave site, where families spoke to him about their ongoing pain, and to a southern woman who told him she was still waiting for her husband. Hence, he stressed that impunity must be ended, and justice delivered.

He urged the government to acknowledge that violations and violence were committed in the past by the state, security forces, and the armed group LTTE, noting positively that space has been provided for memorialization. However, he underlined the need for necessary legal reforms to guarantee non-recurrence.

Welcoming the government’s announcement of plans to establish an independent prosecutor’s office, he insisted that all relevant stakeholders, including civil society, must be involved in the process. He reiterated his call for Sri Lanka to establish a special judicial mechanism with the participation of an independent special prosecutor to deal with cases of human rights violations and crimes against international humanitarian law committed in past decades.

He further emphasized: “The Prevention of Terrorism Act must be immediately suspended. The Public Security Ordinance, the ICCPR Act, the proposed NGO law, and the proposed Personal Data Protection law must be amended in line with international standards. Repression and intimidation of activists and affected communities, particularly regarding enforced disappearances and land occupation, must end immediately. Security sector reform is necessary. Militarization in the North and East must cease, and private lands returned. Priority must be given to resolving the issues of the plantation Tamil community.”

The High Commissioner also stated that his office has so far collected 105,000 items of evidence and information relating to Sri Lanka’s past violations under its accountability project. He called on member states to advance accountability through international jurisdiction using these materials, and requested necessary assistance for the exhumation of mass graves.