Heartbreaking to see people seeking humanitarian aid in Gaza risking their lives: U.N. human rights chief 

Mr. Türk made the remarks in a media conference in Colombo, where he delivered a statement at the conclusion of his mission to Sri Lanka from June 23 to 26. ^“As of 25^th of June, we have 598 reportedly killed in total as a result of them trying to access aid, at distribution points installed within Gaza. I have to say it is really, extremely distressing to see that militarised humanitarian assistance schemes have emerged, they are not a response,” he said.

‘Momentum for change’

On Sri Lanka, High Commissioner Türk said he felt “a real momentum for change” and “a genuine openness to address complex issues” of the past. He also felt “encouraged” by recent speeches of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, publicly recognising the shared pain and grief of individuals from all communities.

“My visit yesterday to the recently re-opened mass grave at Chemmani [near Jaffna in the Northern Province] was a compelling reminder that the past haunts the lives of many in Sri Lanka… At the site I had a chance to meet a family who are still searching and still grieving for a loved one; they hope that his remains may be unearthed there even after all these years,” he said, highlighting the trauma of scores of families looking for their disappeared loved ones.  A statement issued by the President’s office following a meeting with the visiting UN official on Thursday said President Dissanayake told him that his administration had “a deep understanding of their pain”, coming from a political movement that directly faced the issue.

While pointing to “a growing space for memorialisation of victims” in Sri Lanka in his statement, the High Commissioner also highlighted “same old patterns” of surveillance of human right defenders that persist. Observing that Sri Lanka has “struggled” to move forward with domestic accountability mechanisms that victims trust, he said that is why Sri Lankans have looked outside for justice. “Ultimately it is the State’s responsibility, and it is important that this process is nationally owned – and it can be complemented and supported by international means,” he said. President Dissanayake’s government has rejected the UN Human Rights Council’s latest Sri Lanka resolution and any internationally backed evidence gathering mechanism but has promised to strengthen the credibility of domestic mechanisms.  

Further, the UN human rights chief called for the repeal of Sri Lanka’s draconian anti-terror legislation, the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), and a moratorium on its use, and the repeal of the Online Safety Act that rights defenders fiercely oppose.

Economic rights

Referring to the “enormous” impact of Sri Lanka’s economic crisis in 2022, High Commissioner Mr. Türk said human rights need to look at economic issues as well. “We don’t only have civil and political rights, we also have Economic Social Cultural Rights, they are very often the backbone of economic systems, of fiscal decisions taken.”

Welcoming the government’s steps to address corruption he said following the historic people’s uprising of 2022, Sri Lanka has an opportunity to transition to a “human rights economy” – “one that looks beyond economics, and focuses on the main causes of societal problems, and addresses issues such as inequality, injustice and unsustainable practices”.

Austerity measures are rarely looked at from the perspective of human rights, he said, suggesting that a discussion on it was necessary to address the inequities within the International Financial Architecture. Referring to the “extreme hardship” faced by those working on plantations, Mr. Türk said meeting their needs, including access to land, housing and improved wages, was crucial.

The High Commissioner said he was leaving the island with hope over the “palpable desire” in government and civil society to “draw a line under the entrenched identity politics” of ethnicity, religion, language, culture, caste and class”.