#SriLanka: UN experts call for an immediate moratorium on the use of Sri Lanka’s Prevention of #Terrorism Act, and urge the Government to substantively review and revise the legislation to comply with international human rights law: https://t.co/TsNYNKZbsZ pic.twitter.com/Lq2EwZFJlE
— UN Special Procedures (@UN_SPExperts) March 2, 2022
UN human rights experts have called on the Sri Lankan government to issue an immediate moratorium on the use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) amidst increasing scrutiny over the draconian legislation.
“There is a grave risk to the rights and liberties of people who may be detained arbitrarily, especially religious and ethnic minorities, and the use of the law may curtail political dissent with no effective due process guarantees,” the experts said.
“An immediate moratorium on the use of the PTA is required until the necessary amendments can be made.”
The PTA has been used for 40 years to predominantly detain Tamils and Muslims for prolonged periods of time, without charge and often in contravention of due process guarantees recognised by international law. Despite assurances from succesive sri Lankan governments to reform the legislation, there have been no adequate changes.
In February, Sri Lanka proposed reforms to the legislation, however, the experts noted that the "revisions fell short of their recommendations" and the still "did not comply fully with Sri Lanka's international human rights obligations."
“The current proposals leave intact some of the most egregious provisions of the PTA, which have led to alleged human rights violations, including arbitrary detention, torture and enforced disappearances,” the experts said.
“The actions of the Sri Lankan Government call into question its commitment to reform. Sri Lanka has an immediate obligation to put forth solutions to address the human rights violations carried out under the PTA." they added.
In their statement, the experts also called on the European Union to urge the Sri Lankan government to implement an immediate moratorium on the use of the PTA and "release all those unjustly jailed under this abusive law."
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