Amnesty International has issued a call for the Sri Lankan government to confront its past and assume responsibility for conflict-related sexual violence, following a report from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). This move underscores the enduring issue of impunity and the urgent need for accountability in Sri Lanka.
The report by the OHCHR covers a period entwined with decades of conflict between Sri Lankan government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, spanning from 1983 to 2009. During this tumultuous time, sexual violence was reportedly wielded on a significant scale as a “method of intimidation, punishment, and control” over affected populations, particularly targeting the Tamil community. The document addresses the systematic nature of these crimes and highlights the persistent failures of the government to address and ensure accountability.
Amnesty International has urged the Sri Lankan government to engage with these findings by formally acknowledging the state’s historical use of sexual violence, issuing an apology, and actively prosecuting those responsible. The call to action includes a suggestion for a public commitment to a timeline for achieving “truth, justice, and reparations” as advised in the report. This includes taking “immediate and concrete steps” to redress past wrongs.
Spokesperson for the OHCHR, Jeremy Laurence, emphasized in Geneva that conflict-related sexual violence continues to remain unaddressed, with both male and female survivors still being denied justice that was long overdue. Smriti Singh, Amnesty International’s South Asia Director, echoed these sentiments, affirming the report’s findings that sexual violence against Tamils was not only deliberate but also widespread and systemic. Some acts, she noted, may even rise to the level of war crimes and crimes against humanity, underlining the serious violations of international law, as established under the Geneva Convention.
The call by Amnesty is aligned with the mandate from the UN Human Rights Council, which in March 2021 directed the OHCHR to monitor human rights violations in Sri Lanka as detailed here. As the international community watches, the demand for accountability does not merely reflect a need to rectify historical wrongs but aims to establish a foundation for genuine reconciliation and lasting peace. The Sri Lankan government’s response will be crucial in determining the country’s commitment to uphold human rights and justice.