UN Human Rights Council
121 Articles

UN Human Rights Council Outlines Sri Lanka Abuses, But Demurs on Action
It’s not the robust independent mechanism victims campaigned for, or the referral to the ICC that they deserve, but it is a potential path to justice.

Is There a New Era for Human Rights on the Horizon?
There are some hints that it could be a new day for human rights in the United States, but there are also some troubling signs that a return to status quo is also possible under…

When War Criminals Run the Government: Not Too Late for the International Community to Vet Sri Lankan Officials
Developing such a list of individuals would signal to survivors some measure of recognition of the atrocities they have suffered.

National Security This Week at the United Nations (Feb 26-March 5)
Myanmar coup may be on Security Council agenda; ICC opens investigation on Palestine; COVAX delivers vaccine in Africa; and more in the weekly roundup.

UN Should Suspend Sri Lanka from Peacekeeping Over Human Rights Abuses
The government has failed in its international obligations to investigate and prosecute crimes, and has promoted alleged war criminals to high levels.

Highlighting Sri Lanka’s Abuses to the UN in Reviews and Strategic Litigation
The Human Rights Council should build on the documentation and advocacy NGOs have done over the years to encourage accountability for gross violations.

Heeding Victims’ Voices: The Struggle of Tamil Families of the Disappeared in Sri Lanka
Their experience shows that overdue answers--and justice for all victims--requires international action to break the seal that protects the military.

Sri Lanka’s Evasion of Accountability Tests the Limits of the International Human Rights System
Twelve years of failed justice must trigger an honest debate on the ability of these mechanisms to prevent violations and deal with historical atrocities.

Universal Jurisdiction — the Most Difficult Path to Achieve Justice for Sri Lanka
The record shows that, if this is the only feasible route to accountability for now, countries will require additional support at the UN level to achieve accountability.

Emblematic Cases Expose the Long Road to Justice in Sri Lanka
For more than a decade, in one atrocity case after another, justice is delayed, denied, or even reversed, as the government pursues impunity.

Tamils – and Justice – Can’t Wait: The Need for Decisive UN Action on Sri Lanka
The credibility of the Human Rights Council and the UN system, given its “grave failure” in the past, depends on accountability for Sri Lanka’s atrocities.

A US Return to Human Rights Requires Consistency and Self-Restraint in National Security
This week's Egypt arms sales announcement illustrates the failure to practice the values that offer the US its principle source of competitive advantage.