A/HRC/34/20
under the Act and are serving long sentences, particularly where convictions were
based solely on confessions;
(j)
Promptly investigate and prosecute all allegations of torture and other
gross human rights violations, and give the highest priority to long-standing
emblematic cases so as to regain public confidence in the justice system; and
implement fully the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other
cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment and of the Committee against
Torture.
4.
Truth/right to know
68.
The High Commissioner recommends that the Government of Sri Lanka:
(a)
Operationalize the Office of Missing Persons Act and provide the Office
of Missing Persons with sufficient resources and technical means; create the
conditions necessary for the implementation of its mandate by, inter alia, passing
enabling legislation to domesticate the International Convention for the Protection of
All Persons from Enforced Disappearances and including the criminalization of
enforced disappearances in the Penal Code;
(b)
Design, enact and operationalize a truth-seeking mechanism, and
provide it with sufficient resources and technical means to carry out its mandate.
5.
Reparations
69.
The High Commissioner recommends that the Government of Sri Lanka
develop a national reparations policy that takes into account the specific needs of
women and children, and strengthen psychosocial support for victims.
B.
United Nations system
70.
The High Commissioner recommends that the United Nations system:
(a)
Continue providing technical and financial support for the development
of transitional justice mechanisms, provided that they meet international standards,
and continue to coordinate support on transitional justice;
(b)
Apply stringent vetting procedures to Sri Lankan police and military
personnel identified for peacekeeping, military exchanges and training programmes.
C.
Member States
71.
The High Commissioner recommends that Member States:
(a)
Urge the Human Rights Council to continue its close engagement with
the Government of Sri Lanka and to monitor developments in the country;
(b)
Wherever possible, in particular under universal jurisdiction, investigate
and prosecute those allegedly responsible for such violations as torture, enforced
disappearance, war crimes and crimes against humanity;
(c)
Ensure respect for the principle of non-refoulement in the case of Tamils
who have suffered torture and other human rights violations until guarantees of nonrecurrence are in place to ensure that they will not be subject to further violations;
17
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