The Australian Senate has passed a resolution calling for the establishment of an international investigation into crimes against humanity in Sri Lanka, this week.

The motion, which was proposed by the Labour Party and co-sponsored by the Greens went on to call on Australia to “co-sponsor any United States resolution at the UNHRC in March 2014 regarding Sri Lanka’s progress on accountability and human rights”.

Commenting on the successfully passed motion, Greens Leader Christine Milne said,

“The Australian Senate has sent a powerful message to the UN and international community about supporting an international independent war crimes investigation in Sri Lanka. This is a long awaited response to horrific allegations of war crimes and human rights abuses committed in Sri Lanka. New evidence from PIAC makes the investigation even more urgent. Prime Minister Tony Abbott must end his appeasement of the Sri Lankan government which is designed to bolster his cruel refugee policies here in Australia.”

Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon, also added,

“The world will be watching how Australia will be responding to this international call for a war crimes investigation. Today we have sent a clear message to Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. Australia has co-sponsored the last two United Nations General Assembly Human Rights Council resolutions on Sri Lanka, and it is crucial that Australia does the same at the coming March meeting. The Greens have consistently called for a war crimes investigation and will continue to campaign strongly for one. We welcome Labor’s decision to now support this position.”

See the motion in full below.

 Senators Stephens, Moore and Rhiannon and Senator Milne to move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes Australia’s co-sponsorship of the:

(i) 2012 United Nations (UN) General Assembly Human Rights Council (HRC) resolution calling on the Sri Lankan Government to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission of Sri Lanka and to take credible and independent actions to ensure justice, equity, accountability and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans, and

(ii) 2013 UN General Assembly HRC resolution expressing concern at continuing reports of violations of human rights in Sri Lanka, and reiterating the call on the Government of Sri Lanka to implement the Commission’s recommendations and to fulfil its commitment to conduct an independent and credible investigation into allegations of violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law;

(b) notes:

(i) continuing reports of violations of human rights in Sri Lanka, and international concerns about insufficient progress by the Government of Sri Lanka in addressing justice, reconciliation and accountability, and

(ii) the forthcoming update to the HRC 24th session on the progress of the 2012 and 2013 resolutions;

(c) calls on the Australian Government to:

(i) maintain Australia’s strong record of support for human rights at the 24th session of the HRC, including in relation to Sri Lanka,

(ii) support the United States in its call for the ‘international community to establish an independent international accountability mechanism to evaluate reports of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other human rights violations committed by both sides during and after the war in Sri Lanka’,

(iii) co-sponsor any United States resolution at the UNHRC in March 2014 regarding Sri Lanka’s progress on accountability and human rights, and

(iv) urge the Government of Sri Lanka to:

(a) allow unimpeded access for media, international aid agencies, and human rights groups into all regions of the country, as well as to detention sites that may hold political and war prisoners, and

(b) end its media restrictions, including the obstacles to the flow of information in the north and east, and bring to justice those responsible for attacks on journalists and newspaper offices.