International role in justice mechanism of 'utmost importance' says Amnesty

Amnesty International urged UN Human Rights Council's member states to ensure justice is delivered to victims in Sri Lanka and highlighted the "utmost importance" of international role in justice mechanism.

"Engagement of international judges, prosecutors, defence lawyers, forensic experts, and victim and witness protection experts will be of the utmost importance to maintain the credibility, independence and effectiveness of the process," Amnesty said, in a written statement submitted to the UNHRC ahead of the Council's upcoming session.

"Sri Lanka's current laws remain inadequate to prosecute crimes under international law effectively. Reform is needed. Genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes (including war crimes under customary international law), torture, enforced disappearance and extrajudicial execution should be made crimes in Sri Lankan law with retroactive effect over past crimes," Amnesty added.

See here for full statement in English and Tamil.

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