US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on members of the UN Human Rights Council to back a resolution on addressing “the lack of accountability for past atrocities in Sri Lanka”, in an address to the council today.
“I’m here to reaffirm America’s commitment to respect and defend the human rights of all people, everywhere,” said Blinken this morning, adding that his government “is placing democracy and human rights at the center of our foreign policy”.
“We encourage the Council to support resolutions at this session addressing issues of concern around the world, including ongoing human rights violations in Syria and North Korea, the lack of accountability for past atrocities in Sri Lanka, and the need for further investigation into the situation in South Sudan,” he continued.
The situation in Sri Lankan will be familiar to Blinken, who has previously commented extensively on the island.
See more in our feature: Antony Blinken and Sri Lanka – A look at the new US Secretary of State
His remarks come as a draft of a resolution on accountability in Sri Lanka was released on Friday. The draft called on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights “to consolidate, analyse and preserve” evidence that could be used in future war crimes trials and called for enhanced “monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka”.
However, many Tamil activists expressed disappointment at the draft, with many lobbying for the mandate of a stronger international accountability mechanism that will finally see perpetrators of mass atrocities brought to justice. It has been almost 12 years since tens of thousands of Tamil civilians were killed in a military offensive by the Sri Lankan state, which saw hospitals bombed, widespread sexual violence and executions of those attempting to surrender. Many of those that led the offensive remain in senior positions, including Sri Lanka's president, prime minister, army chief and defence secretary.
“There is no moral equivalence between the actions of the United States, which are subject to robust, impartial, and transparent accountability mechanisms – and those of authoritarian regimes, which violate and abuse human rights with impunity,” he continued.
“Together, we must push back against blatant attempts to subvert the values upon which the United Nations is founded – including that each of us as individuals are endowed with human rights and that states are obliged to protect those fundamental rights. Those who hide under the mantle of promoting economic development while seeking to undermine human rights will be held to account, including for their own human rights violations."
Blinken also announced that the US will seek election to the Human Rights Council for the 2022-24 term. ”We humbly ask for the support of all UN Member States in our bid to return to a seat in this body,” he added.
Watch his full address below. See the full text here.
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