UNHRC commissioner recommends on hybrid court system

UN Human Rights Chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein justifying the OISL report recommendation for a hybrid special court to address accountability issues in Sri Lanka, said the domestic judicial system is not equipped to conduct an investigation into the crimes listed in the findings.

Addressing the ongoing 30th UNHRC session a short while ago via a video statement, the High Commissioner pointed out the ‘breadth and magnitude’ of the crimes documented in the OISL report cannot be probed by local judicial systems and emphasized the need for international participation in the mechanism that is due to be established to address accountability concerns. He also noted that although the scope for freedom of expression has improved, cases of surveillance have been reported on district levels in the North and East.