TOP > Minority Rights > Peacebuilding and human rights in Sri Lanka

The Committee Against Torture (CAT) considered reports submitted by the Sri Lankan government at its 47th session from October 31 to November 25, 2011. As shown in the deep concerns of the international community over the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, the committee’s most serious and immediate concerns are enforced disappearances, torture and deaths in detention, secret detention centers, sexual exploitation, and the abuse of children by peacekeepers. Many human rights defenders, lawyers and journalists have faced threats from the Sri Lankan authorities and been subject to such human rights violations. The mothers and other relatives of people who have reportedly disappeared have formed an association called “Lankan Mothers and Sisters” to call for public attention to the issue as well as pressure the government to act. The government is urged to take immediate and effective action to address the grave situation for human rights in Sri Lanka. CAT’s Concluding Observations with recommendations covering a wide range of matters (CAT/C/LKA/CO/3-4) can be found here.