Diplomatic Advocacy Dossier: Advancing Tamil Rights and Accountability at the UN General Assembly
Diplomatic Advocacy Dossier:
Advancing Tamil Rights and Accountability at the UN General Assembly
Edited by: Wimal Navaratnam, Human Rights Activist, July 24, 2025
Background
The Sri Lankan civil war (1983–2009) ended with a brutal
military campaign that crushed the Tamil separatist insurgency but at enormous
human cost. In the final months of the war, tens of thousands of Tamil
civilians were killed amid indiscriminate shelling of supposed “no-fire zones”
and other atrocity crimes. A UN Secretary-General’s panel found credible
evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by both
government forces and the Tamil Tigers (LTTE), including widespread shelling of
civilians, executions of surrendering persons, and the LTTE’s use of human
shields. UN inquiries later acknowledged that up to 70,000 Tamil civilians
may have perished in the war’s final phase. The conflict’s legacy left vast
destruction, deep ethnic grievances, and thousands of missing persons.
After the war, the Sri Lankan government promised
reconciliation and justice but delivered little. Domestic commissions and
investigations repeatedly failed to hold perpetrators accountable, allowing a
culture of impunity to take root. An internal UN review found the international
community, including the UN, suffered a “systemic failure” in protecting
civilians in Sri Lanka. The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) began
addressing Sri Lanka’s accountability in 2012, adopting a series of resolutions
pressing for truth, justice, and reconciliation. In 2015, under international
pressure, Sri Lanka even co-sponsored UNHRC Resolution 30/1, undertaking to
pursue a domestic accountability process with international participation.
However, these commitments were subsequently abandoned by Sri Lankan leaders.
Key wartime commanders accused of atrocities were elevated to powerful
positions instead of being prosecuted. Meanwhile, Tamil civilians in the former
conflict areas continued to endure heavy military presence, displacement from
their lands, and the slow erosion of their cultural rights.
Today, 16 years since the end of the war, the core
issues remain unresolved. No high-ranking official has been held accountable
for alleged mass atrocities, and Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority still faces
militarization and discrimination. Sri Lanka has the second-highest number
of enforced disappearances in the world, with over 6,000 cases formally
reported to the UN Working Group on Disappearances (and many more unreported).
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warns that the government’s
persistent failure to deliver justice and accountability has heightened the
risk of recurrence of conflict and serious human rights violations. For the
United Nations and its member states, the Sri Lankan Tamil issue has become a
test case of the international community’s commitment to upholding human
rights, preventing atrocities, and supporting a just peace. This dossier
lays out the key arguments, evidence, and recommended actions for diplomats and
policymakers to advance Tamil rights and accountability at the UN General
Assembly (UNGA) – framing the case in terms of international norms and shared
strategic interests.
Key Arguments
- Justice
and Accountability Uphold International Law: The egregious crimes
committed during Sri Lanka’s civil war – from deliberate attacks on
civilians to extrajudicial killings and mass disappearances – demand
accountability under international law. The UN’s own investigations
concluded that these atrocities meet the threshold of war crimes and
crimes against humanity. Failing to prosecute such grave violations
undermines the entire international human rights regime. UN member states
have a legal and moral duty to ensure justice for the victims of
mass atrocities, in line with obligations under conventions on war crimes,
genocide, and human rights. Upholding accountability in Sri Lanka affirms
the principle that no government can kill its own citizens with impunity.
- Preventing
Recurrence and Ensuring Stability: Addressing past abuses is not only
about justice for its own sake – it is a strategic imperative to
prevent future conflict. Sri Lanka’s post-war trajectory shows that
unresolved grievances and unchecked impunity are breeding grounds for
renewed instability. The UN High Commissioner’s report warned that Sri
Lanka’s failure to deal with past violations has created “early warning
signs” of deteriorating human rights conditions and potential relapse
into violence. By insisting on accountability and reforms, the
international community can help break the cycle of ethnic tension and
repression that could otherwise erupt again. Stability in the South
Asia region is at stake: accountability and power-sharing will defuse
Tamil discontent and remove pretexts for extremist resurgence, thereby
contributing to lasting peace and security.
- Upholding
International Norms and UN Credibility: The Sri Lanka case is a
pivotal test of the United Nations’ credibility in enforcing global
norms. After the horrors of past genocides and wars, UN member states
agreed that protecting populations from mass atrocities is a collective
responsibility. In 2009, the UN’s inaction in Sri Lanka was later deemed a
“grave systemic failure”, spurring the UN’s Rights Up Front
initiative to ensure such mistakes are not repeated. Acting on Sri Lanka
now is crucial to honor the UN’s pledge of “never again.” It demonstrates
that the UNGA will step up when the Security Council is paralyzed by
politics. Conversely, inaction would signal that geopolitical
considerations trump human rights, emboldening other regimes that commit
abuses. By championing accountability for Sri Lanka, UN member states
reaffirm fundamental international norms – from the Responsibility to
Protect to the universality of human rights – and restore trust in the
UN’s capacity to defend them.
- Protecting
Human Rights and Minority Inclusion: Supporting Tamil advocacy is
consistent with the UN’s core values of human rights, equality, and
dignity for all. The Tamil people, as a minority who faced systematic
discrimination and violence, seek guarantees of non-recurrence: justice,
demilitarization of their areas, return of land, and political autonomy
for their community. These goals align with international human rights
standards (e.g. rights of ethnic minorities, protection from torture and
arbitrary detention). By backing these legitimate aspirations, member
states reinforce the message that minority rights and majority-minority
reconciliation are essential for national unity – a principle
applicable worldwide. Even Sri Lanka’s closest neighbors acknowledge this:
India has stated that delivering a political solution that meets Tamil
aspirations “contributes directly to the unity and integrity” of Sri
Lanka. In sum, advocacy for Tamil rights is advocacy for the universality
of human rights and an inclusive vision of nationhood that the UN espouses
globally.
- Shared
Geopolitical and Strategic Interests: It is in UN member states’ pragmatic
interest to support accountability and reform in Sri Lanka. A post-war
order built on justice and reconciliation will yield a more stable Sri
Lanka that can be a reliable economic partner and contributor to regional
stability. In contrast, continued turmoil or authoritarian drift in Sri
Lanka could have negative spillovers – such as refugee outflows,
radicalization, or increased great-power interference in the island – all
of which concern neighboring states and international powers. Notably,
several countries have direct stakes: India seeks stability in its
backyard and has domestic pressure to protect Sri Lankan Tamils’ welfare; Western
nations like Canada, the UK, and Australia have large Tamil diaspora
communities and voter bases who support justice efforts; and even investor
countries such as China have an interest in a peaceful environment so
their investments aren’t jeopardized by unrest. By framing Tamil
accountability in terms of rule-of-law governance and long-term stability,
advocates can show it’s a “win-win” proposition. Supporting a credible
accountability process and political reconciliation in Sri Lanka will help
secure a peaceful Indian Ocean region, protect investments, and reduce the
need for future costly humanitarian or peacekeeping interventions. It
positions member states as partners in Sri Lanka’s stability and
development, rather than outsiders – embodying the idea that upholding
human rights is integral to sustainable peace and strategic security.
Evidence of Human Rights Violations and Unaddressed
Grievances
- Mass
Atrocities in 2009: Independent inquiries have documented that Sri
Lankan government forces unleashed relentless bombardment on civilian
concentrations in 2009, causing catastrophic casualties. The UN Internal
Review Panel (Petrie report) acknowledged estimates of up to 70,000
Tamil civilian deaths in the final onslaught. The UN
Secretary-General’s Panel of Experts found credible allegations of
intentional shelling of hospitals and food distribution lines,
extrajudicial executions of surrendering LTTE fighters and civilians, and
denial of humanitarian aid. These acts, alongside LTTE’s own brutal
tactics (using civilians as human shields, child soldiers, etc.), amount
to grave breaches of international humanitarian law. To date, not a
single perpetrator of these wartime atrocities has been held accountable
in a court of law.
- Entrenched
Impunity and Defiance of Justice: Successive Sri Lankan governments
have systematically obstructed accountability for wartime crimes.
After initially agreeing in 2015 to a hybrid court with international
judges, the Sri Lankan leadership quickly reneged on that pledge. Top
officials openly rejected any foreign involvement in investigations.
Indeed, individuals implicated in alleged atrocities were promoted: for
example, Shavendra Silva, accused by UN reports of commanding units
that shelled civilians, was elevated to Army Commander. The current
president (as of 2020) is Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who as Defence
Secretary oversaw the final war campaign and is likewise credibly accused
of war crimes. Domestic mechanisms – numerous Commissions of Inquiry
– have either exonerated suspects or had their findings buried. In 2020,
Sri Lanka formally withdrew from the UNHRC process and dissolved
the few accountability structures it had (e.g. special prosecutor’s
office), signaling outright repudiation of justice efforts. This pattern
of impunity is so entrenched that the UN High Commissioner concludes Sri
Lanka is “in a state of denial about the past,” with accused war
criminals not only unpunished but in power.
- Ongoing
Human Rights Abuses: The end of the civil war did not end human rights
violations against Tamils and other minorities. Post-2009, Sri Lankan
security forces have been repeatedly implicated in abuses such as torture,
sexual violence, and arbitrary detention of Tamils (often under
draconian anti-terror laws). Sri Lanka remains one of the world’s leaders
in enforced disappearances: at least 6,117 cases of disappearance
are unresolved and on record with the UN, second only to Iraq globally. To
this day, Tamil families of the disappeared protest weekly, demanding to
know the fate of relatives who surrendered or were taken by the army in
2009. Their pleas have met silence or intimidation. Additionally, the
space for dissent in Sri Lanka has shrunk; activists (especially Tamil
rights advocates), journalists, and lawyers face harassment and
surveillance by state agencies. Over 40 civil society groups
reported being targeted by security forces in just the past few years.
Military intelligence officers attend memorial events in the north,
questioning participants, and organizers of peaceful Tamil commemoration
ceremonies have been arrested under trumped-up charges. These ongoing
violations underscore that the repression of the Tamil population is
not merely a legacy issue but a current reality.
- Militarization
and Land Grievances: Sri Lanka’s Northern and Eastern provinces (the
traditional Tamil homeland areas) remain under an extraordinarily heavy
military occupation even in peacetime. Estimates indicate that Sri
Lanka stations up to 25% of its entire army in the Northern Province,
an area that is home to only about 5% of the country’s population. In one
district, Mullaitivu, there is at least one soldier for every two
civilians living there. The military controls vast swathes of land –
about 30,000 acres in Mullaitivu alone – including lands seized
from war-displaced Tamil civilians. Despite government claims of releasing
most land, many original owners still cannot return; their property has
been fenced into High Security Zones or converted to Army-run farms,
tourist resorts, and bases. This militarization bleeds into daily life:
soldiers run schools and shops, monitor civil activities, and maintain
checkpoints across Tamil areas. Locals report feeling like an occupied
people in what should be a post-conflict reconciliation period. Demographic
and cultural erosion is also a concern – e.g., state-facilitated
settlement schemes and construction of Buddhist shrines by the army in
historically Tamil, Hindu areas have been documented. The persistent
military footprint not only perpetuates Tamil civilians’ sense of injustice
and insecurity, but it also violates Sri Lanka’s commitments to
demilitarize and normalize the region after war. As one report concluded, “only
a serious and genuine effort at security sector reform and
demilitarisation will lead to sustainable peace and stability” in
these areas.
- International
Assessments and UN Actions: The international community has not been
blind to these issues. The UN Human Rights Council has passed no
fewer than seven resolutions on Sri Lanka since 2009, reflecting
broad concern over the lack of progress. In 2021, the UNHRC took the
significant step of establishing a dedicated Sri Lanka Accountability
Project at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights –
mandated to collect and preserve evidence for future prosecutions of
atrocity crimes. That move was driven by findings that Sri Lanka’s
domestic efforts were in utter disarray and that evidence of past crimes
was at risk of being lost. UN human rights experts have consistently
reported warning signs: a 2021 UN report explicitly warned Sri Lanka was
on an “alarming path” toward future violations due to accelerating
militarization, ethno-nationalist rhetoric, and the dismantling of checks
and balances. UN High Commissioners (both Prince Zeid and Michelle
Bachelet) have repeatedly called on member states to consider
alternate avenues of justice – including international trials and
sanctions – given Colombo’s unwillingness to genuinely cooperate. Even
regional players acknowledge the problem: for instance, India has urged
Sri Lanka at the UN to implement its 13th Amendment (providing provincial
devolution) and respect Tamil “equality, justice, peace and dignity”,
implicitly linking minority rights to stability. Several countries have
begun to impose their own measures. In January 2023, Canada sanctioned
two former Sri Lankan presidents, the Rajapaksa brothers, citing their
role in “gross and systematic violations of human rights” during the war.
Similarly, the United States has banned certain Sri Lankan military
officials (including Shavendra Silva) from entry for their involvement in
serious violations. This evidence of international concern and action
illustrates both the growing impatience with Sri Lanka’s defiance and the
willingness of states to take principled steps. However, a more
coordinated and global approach – through the UN General Assembly – is
necessary to truly alter Colombo’s calculations and bring about meaningful
change.
Recommendations for Action
To effectively address the above issues, UN member states –
working through the General Assembly, Human Rights Council, and in
capital-to-capital diplomacy – should pursue a coordinated set of actions.
These recommendations aim to galvanize international efforts that are
principled yet pragmatic, helping to secure justice, rights, and stability in
Sri Lanka in line with UN values and member states’ interests:
- Champion
an International Accountability Mechanism: Move beyond rhetorical
appeals by taking concrete steps to establish an international justice
process for Sri Lanka’s mass atrocities. Member states should work
collaboratively to table a resolution at the UNGA (or request via the UN
Security Council) that mandates a credible international judicial
mechanism – for example, referring the situation in Sri Lanka to the International
Criminal Court (ICC), or creating an ad hoc International Criminal
Tribunal for Sri Lanka. If Security Council action is blocked by
vetoes, the General Assembly can invoke the Uniting for Peace
principle to recommend such measures. The precedent exists (e.g., the
General Assembly’s role in setting up the IIIM for Syria). By signalling
willingness to seek justice with or without the Sri Lankan government’s
consent, states apply maximum pressure on Colombo to cooperate. Key
outcome: The perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity –
on both sides – would know they face real consequences, satisfying
victims’ longstanding calls for justice and deterring future atrocity
crimes.
- Strengthen
UN Oversight and Evidence Preservation: In parallel, continue to
leverage the UN Human Rights Council’s tools. The OHCHR’s Sri Lanka accountability
project (evidence preservation mechanism) must be robustly supported
with funding and expert personnel, and its mandate renewed and expanded as
needed. UNGA members can provide voluntary funding and secondment of staff
to this effort. The information gathered should be regularly reported
to the General Assembly and made accessible to any credible
prosecutorial authorities. At the same time, encourage more countries to
exercise universal jurisdiction by prosecuting Sri Lankan atrocity
suspects present on their soil. Coordination through INTERPOL and sharing
of evidence can make these national trials more feasible. Key outcome:
Even if an international tribunal takes time to materialize, a strong
evidence archive and active universal-jurisdiction cases will chip away at
impunity and keep the hope of justice alive.
- Impose
Targeted Sanctions on Human Rights Violators: Member states should
jointly launch a campaign of targeted sanctions against individuals
and entities credibly implicated in grave abuses. Freezing assets and
banning travel for top military officers and officials linked to war
crimes or serious post-war violations sends a powerful message. Countries
that have Magnitsky-style human rights sanctions regimes (EU, US, UK,
Canada, Australia, etc.) can coordinate lists for maximum impact. The
General Assembly can encourage this by formally calling on states to adopt
such measures against those undermining accountability and reconciliation.
Additionally, restrict Sri Lankan military participation in UN
peacekeeping operations until major reforms are enacted (as recommended by
the UN High Commissioner). Key outcome: The Sri Lankan leadership
will feel direct consequences for shielding war criminals – increasing
pressure on them to either pursue genuine domestic accountability or face
growing international isolation.
- Support
Political Reform and Power-Sharing Initiatives: Addressing Tamil
disenfranchisement requires a political solution alongside judicial
accountability. UN member states (particularly those with influence in
Colombo, like India, the US, EU, Japan, etc.) should form a diplomatic
group to push for implementation of longstanding commitments such as the 13th
Amendment to Sri Lanka’s Constitution (which promises devolution of
power to Tamil-majority provinces). They should insist on a timeline for
provincial council elections and devolution of land and police powers to
local authorities in the North and East. Moreover, encourage Sri Lanka to
enshrine minority language rights, protection of religious and cultural
sites, and guarantees of non-discrimination in law. The UNGA can
underscore these points by recognizing the link between inclusive
governance and conflict prevention. Offers of technical assistance or
conditional development aid could help Colombo implement these measures. Key
outcome: By fulfilling Tamil aspirations for autonomy, equal
rights, and security, Sri Lanka would remove the major sources of
ethnic tension. This not only honors the dignity of the Tamil people but
also contributes to a stronger, more unified Sri Lankan state – a point
even Sri Lanka’s friends like India emphasize is in Sri Lanka’s own
best interest.
- Deploy
Enhanced Human Rights Monitoring on the Ground: To protect vulnerable
communities and build confidence, the UN should expand its monitoring
presence in Sri Lanka’s former conflict zones. Member states can advocate
(through the UNGA Third Committee or directly with the UN Secretariat) for
a UN field office or at least a team of human rights monitors in
northern and eastern Sri Lanka. These monitors would observe and report on
ongoing issues such as land returns, military conduct, treatment of
detainees, and the safety of civil society activists. If Sri Lanka’s
government resists a formal UN mission, creative alternatives include
establishing an international observer group in Sri Lanka via bilateral
embassies working jointly, or tasking the UN Country Team with
specific public reporting duties. Additionally, the General Assembly can
request the UN Secretary-General to keep Sri Lanka as a standing item in
his annual reports on prevention of genocide/atrocities, given the
“early warning” indicators present. Key outcome: Continuous
monitoring will help prevent relapse into conflict or large-scale
repression by spotlighting abuses early. It also reassures Tamil
civilians that the world has not forgotten their plight, potentially
deterring the worst excesses on the ground.
- Engage
in Multi-Level Diplomatic Advocacy: Finally, integrate the Tamil
rights and justice issue into broader diplomatic and development
engagement with Sri Lanka. Member states should use every available forum
– UNGA general debates, bilateral dialogues, Commonwealth meetings,
Non-Aligned Movement forums – to consistently raise the importance of
reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka. Link progress on human
rights to Sri Lanka’s international image and partnerships. For instance,
states can leverage Sri Lanka’s desire for economic support (IMF programs,
trade concessions like the EU’s GSP+) by tying these to human rights
benchmarks (e.g. repeal of abusive laws like the Prevention of Terrorism
Act, release of long-term Tamil political prisoners, return of occupied
lands). The aim is to make human rights a cross-cutting priority in
dealings with Sri Lanka, not a siloed issue. The UNGA can encourage this
by convening special sessions or side-events on Sri Lanka’s progress,
ensuring it remains in the diplomatic spotlight. Key outcome: A
constant, unified diplomatic front will convey that the world expects
Sri Lanka to honor its commitments and international obligations. Over
time, this sustained engagement – mixing pressure with incentives – can
encourage Colombo to undertake the tough but necessary steps for genuine
reconciliation.
By implementing the above recommendations, UN member states
will be taking a principled stand that aligns with the UN Charter’s promises of
justice and peace. These actions are mutually reinforcing: accountability
measures will bolster prospects for political reconciliation, and vice versa,
creating a virtuous cycle toward a durable peace in Sri Lanka. Crucially, this
agenda is calibrated to resonate with diplomats’ concerns – it highlights rule
of law, stability, and shared norms rather than solely ethnic sentiment.
The tragic lessons of Sri Lanka’s war, and the persevering hopes of its Tamil
survivors, now offer the international community an opportunity to demonstrate
leadership. It is an opportunity to renew the UN’s commitment to prevent
atrocity crimes, to support minority rights, and to strengthen a
rules-based international order where justice prevails over impunity. The
following table summarizes the key points and corresponding actions that UN
member states should consider in their advocacy at the General Assembly:
Key Issue/Concern |
Evidence / Context (Why It Matters) |
Recommended Action (What UN Members Should Do) |
Accountability for
Mass Atrocities <br>(Unpunished war crimes from 2009 undermining
justice) |
– Up to 70,000
Tamil civilians killed in final war months; UN found credible war
crimes by both government and LTTE.<br>– No prosecutions of
perpetrators; alleged war criminals hold elite positions in Sri Lanka. |
Establish an
international justice mechanism (e.g. ICC referral or ad-hoc tribunal) to
prosecute genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity. <br>Use UNGA
if UNSC is stalled, invoking Uniting for Peace to recommend action. |
Risk of Conflict Recurrence <br>(Impunity fueling future
instability) |
– UN
reports “early warning signs” of renewed violations due to deepening
impunity, militarization, and ethno-nationalism.<br>– Victims’ anger
and unresolved grievances could lead to radicalization or unrest,
jeopardizing regional stability. |
Maintain
rigorous international scrutiny: Extend and strengthen the UNHRC-mandated
evidence collection (OHCHR Sri Lanka Accountability Project).
<br>Deploy on-ground human rights monitors in Tamil areas to
provide early warning and deterrence. |
Human Rights and
Rule of Law <br>(Ongoing abuses against Tamils and others) |
– 6,000+ enforced
disappearances unresolved – Sri Lanka is 2nd worldwide in missing persons
cases.<br>– Continued use of torture, “anti-terror” detentions, press
intimidation in Tamil regions.<br>– Heavy military occupation (ratio of
1 soldier per 2 civilians in some Tamil districts) erodes civil liberties. |
Press for security
sector reform
and demilitarization: Urge Sri Lanka to repeal repressive laws (like
PTA), downsize the military footprint in minority areas, and uphold civilian
rule of law. <br>Targeted sanctions: Impose travel bans and
asset freezes on officials and commanders credibly accused of grave human
rights violations to incentivize reform. |
Tamil Minority Aspirations <br>(Political grievances and
marginalization) |
– Tamils lack
autonomy and feel excluded from power; promised devolution under Sri Lanka’s 13th
Amendment remains unfulfilled.<br>– Widespread land dispossession
and cultural marginalization (e.g. state-backed Sinhalese settlements in
Tamil areas) continues to cause resentment.<br>– 90,000+ war widows
and countless trauma victims require acknowledgment and support. |
Promote an
inclusive political solution: Insist on full implementation of constitutional
devolution (13A) and push for credible power-sharing with Tamil
representatives. <br>Support a UN-facilitated reconciliation process
– e.g. a truth commission and reparations program – that addresses victims’
needs and gives Tamils a voice in shaping post-war memory and governance. |
International Norms
& UN Credibility <br>(Global principles at stake) |
– The Sri Lanka case
is cited as a UN failure in atrocity prevention; UN’s own panel called
it a “systemic failure” of the system, prompting the Rights Up Front
initiative.<br>– Ongoing impunity contradicts the Responsibility to
Protect (R2P) norm that all nations endorsed to prevent mass atrocity
crimes.<br>– Other conflict-affected communities watch how Sri Lanka is
handled as a barometer of the UN’s resolve. |
Elevate Sri Lanka
at UNGA: Place
Sri Lanka’s human rights situation as a regular item on the General Assembly
agenda or in Third Committee discussions, ensuring sustained visibility.
<br>Demonstrate unity in messaging: Through resolutions and
high-level statements, affirm that the UN stands with victims and that
accountability and reconciliation in Sri Lanka are essential to the
credibility of the UN and the integrity of international law.
<br>Should the Security Council remain deadlocked, use the UNGA’s
authority to recommend actions (as was done for Syria’s IIIM) – showing that
multilateral action for justice is achievable even when vetoes loom. |
Each of these points reinforces the central message: addressing
Tamil rights and accountability in Sri Lanka is both a moral necessity and a
strategic investment in international peace and security. By implementing
the recommended actions, UN member states will not only answer the longstanding
cries of Sri Lanka’s Tamil victims for justice and dignity, but also fortify
the pillars of the rules-based order – deterring atrocity crimes, defending
human rights, and proving that the global community can act decisively when
national governments fail to protect their own people. The UN General Assembly,
representing all nations, is the appropriate venue to build this consensus and
momentum. It is time for diplomats and policymakers to move beyond complacency
or fatigue on Sri Lanka’s issue and instead leverage the UNGA’s collective
power to usher in a new era of accountability, reconciliation, and respect
for minority rights on the island.
In summary, a principled and pragmatic diplomatic advocacy
at the UN – utilizing facts, international norms, and appeals to shared
interests – can persuade states that supporting Tamil justice and rights in Sri
Lanka advances the very values of peace, law, and human security that the
United Nations was founded to uphold. The tragedy of Sri Lanka’s Tamils, once a
symbol of international inaction, can become a success story of international
cooperation – but only if member states are willing to back words with deeds,
and to stand firm on the side of justice. The proposals in this dossier offer a
roadmap to do exactly that.
In solidarity,
Wimal Navaratnam
Human Rights Advocate | ABC Tamil Oli (ECOSOC)
Email: tamilolicanada@gmail.com
References
1www.tamilguardian.com
‘Systematic failure’ in Sri Lanka, says UN | Tamil Guardian
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Sri Lanka on alarming path towards recurrence of grave human rights ...
5www.tamilguardian.com
Sri Lanka remains 2nd highest in the world for enforced disappearances ...
6www.amnesty.org
Sri Lanka: Damning UN report stresses need for urgent international ...
7tamildiplomat.com
India urges Sri Lanka to fully implement the 13th Amendment
8tamildiplomat.com
Partners, Not Beggars: A Strategic Proposal for Lobbying Security ...
9www.tamilguardian.com
One Sri Lankan soldier for every two civilians in Mullaitivu – ACPR ...
10www.hrw.org
“Why Can’t We Go Home?”: Military Occupation of Land in Sri Lanka | HRW
11www.tamilguardian.com
Under occupation - Sri Lanka's militarisation of Tamil homeland ...
12www.amnesty.org
HRC resolution on Sri Lanka underscores need for international scrutiny
13www.indiatoday.in
Canada sanctions Gotabaya, Mahinda Rajapaksa for human rights violation ...
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