OHCHR Sri Lanka accountability project (2021)

In its resolution 46/1 on "Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka", adopted on 23 March 2021, the Human Rights Council recognized "the importance of preserving and analysing evidence relating to violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes in Sri Lanka with a view to advancing accountability", and decided to strengthen the capacity of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) “to collect, consolidate, analyse and preserve information and evidence and to develop possible strategies for future accountability processes for gross violations of human rights or serious violations of international humanitarian law in Sri Lanka, to advocate for victims and survivors, and to support relevant judicial and other proceedings, including in Member States, with competent jurisdiction”.

In accordance with this mandate, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights established the OHCHR Sri Lanka accountability project. The team is based in Geneva.

In October 2022, through resolution 51/1, paragraph 8, the Human Rights Council decided to extend and reinforce the capacity of OHCHR in this regard.

In resolutions 46/1 and 51/1, the Human Rights Council also requested OHCHR to continue enhance its monitoring and reporting to the Human Rights Council on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, including on progress in reconciliation and accountability. OHCHR is due to produce a written update at its 54th session and a comprehensive report that includes further options for advancing accountability at the 57th Session of the Council, both to be discussed in the context of an interactive dialogue.

Resolution 51/1 adopted by the Human Rights Council on 6 October 2022 - Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka. (A/HRC/RES/51/1)

Questions and answers on OHCHR’s mandate under resolution HRC 46/1: 
English | Sinhala | Tamil 

Terms of Reference of the OHCHR Sri Lanka accountability project:
English | Sinhala | Tamil

More information on the previous OHCHR investigation on Sri Lanka (2014-2015)

Accountability for Enforced Disappearances in Sri Lanka - OHCHR report

High Commissioner's video message on Accountability for Enforced Disappearances in Sri Lanka

Report on the Situation of human rights in Sri Lanka – Comprehensive report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (A/HRC/51/5)

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 23 March 2021 46/1 on “Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka” 

Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on “Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka” (A/HRC/46/20) 

Oral Update on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, 48th session of the Human Rights Council - Statement by Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 1 October 2015 30/1 on “Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka”

Report of the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL) (A/HRC/30/CRP.2) 
Sinhala  | Tamil versions