UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, Clément Nyaletsossi Voule stressed that the country’s leaders do not dismiss people’s desire for freedom, rule of law and democracy and do not undermine the progress that has been hard fought, particularly in the light of the upcoming elections.
Speaking to media in Colombo, at the end of his mission in Sri Lanka from July 18 - 26, the UN Envoy said, “I found that the legal framework governing the right to freedom of peaceful assembly in Sri Lanka is comprehensive. Some of the laws and regulations have, however, been used to unduly restrict this right.
These restrictions seem more frequent in the North and the East of the country.”
The media briefing was held to present preliminary observations of the UN Special Rapporteur following his visit to the country.
He expressed concern about the extension of the Emergency regulations and its effect on peaceful assembly, and certain laws such as Article 77 of the Police Ordinance which requires the organizers to notify the police of any protests six hours ahead.
“These provisions give cause for concern, as they are in conflict with international human rights standards,” he said, adding that he observed a decline in the freedoms enjoyed by the people years ago, after the Easter Sunday tragedy.
Speaking exclusively to Sunday Observer after the media briefing Voule said, he understood the ramifications of the devastating Easter Sunday attacks but heightened surveillance on civil society activists on the pretext of security measures cannot be condoned. “The surveillance should be on the criminal groups and not on the civil society,” he stressed.
He underscored that the series of legislative reforms proposed by the Government, the new counter terrorism laws included, should not clamp down on existing rights enjoyed by the people.
The UN Special Rapporteur was here on the invitation of the Government to assess the country’s level of freedom of assembly and association and make recommendations to rectify problematic areas.
Referring to the controversy of his meeting with members of the Judiciary and the Chief Justice, he said the meetings were consistent with all his missions in any country and not exclusive to Sri Lanka. Members of the Joint Opposition in Parliament last week protested against his meetings with the Chief Justice and Judges presiding in courts where sensitive cases are heard.
The Special Rapporteur visited Colombo, and several areas in the Northern, Eastern and Southern Provinces. He met the Government officials, representatives of civil society and trade unions, as well as members of the National Election Commission and Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka. He will submit a comprehensive report of the country visit to the Human Rights Council at its 44th Session in June 2020.
Since 2015, Sri Lanka has received 8 UN special procedures mandate holders, and this year the Sub-Committee on Prevention of Torture visited Sri Lanka from April 2-12.
In addition to this visit, Sri Lanka will receive two more special procedures mandate holders this year, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief from August 15-24 and the Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity from October 28 - November 8.