France has said that ensuring justice for the atrocities committed during the war is essential for lasting peace.
Speaking at the United Nations Human Rights Council during the general debate on the findings of the OISL report, France said "justice is, indeed, an essential condition for lasting peace," and "the swift establishment of a credible and independent transitional justice mechanism, to which the international community will be linked, is therefore a crucial element to this process."
Addressing the crimes against humanity detailed in the report, France said "it is now essential that all light be shed on the responsibility of these crimes, and that justice is ensured, both for victims' families, who bravely contributed to this report, and to facilitate the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka and definitively turn the page on the civil war."
See full statement below (translated by Tamil Guardian):
I would firstly like to thank the High Commissioner for the inquiry report on Sri Lanka he has just presented.
The conclusions mentioned therein are of great concern and help take the full measure of the tragic events that took place in Sri Lanka from 2002 to 2011. Indeed, the abuses committed during this period are constitutive of "crimes against humanity" according to the report. It is now essential that all light be shed on the responsibility of these crimes, and that justice is ensured, both for victims' families, who bravely contributed to this report, and to facilitate the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka and definitively turn the page on the civil war.
France welcomes the commitments already made by the Sri Lankan government, especially in matters of inquiry, the establishment of responsibilities, of reconciliation and of searching for the truth. The presidential and legislative elections that took place in Sri Lanka since the beginning of the year 2015 inaugurated a new phase for the country's place in the international community. This opening was welcomed by France and its partners. France hopes that the policy announced by the government in favour of a Sri Lanka which is democratic, prosperous and respectful of human rights, can be implemented.
The resolution proposed by the Human Rights Council carries a real hope of change and we encourage the Sri Lankan authorities to implement it fully. Justice is, indeed, an essential condition for lasting peace. The swift establishment of a credible and independent transitional justice mechanism, to which the international community will be linked, is therefore a crucial element to this process.
As you know, France is particularly committed to the fight against impunity, and we support the efforts of the Sri Lankan authorities in this regard.
France will remain paying close attention to the progress towards implementing the recommendations contained in the High Commissioner’s report, both in terms of reconciliation and the protection of human rights in Sri Lanka.