Association pour le Droit de l’Homme et Le Développement Durable
Thank you, Madam Chair. Strengthening trust and social cohesion in Sri Lanka remains
impossible as long as the state continues to deny, downplay, and obscure the grave atrocities
committed against the Tamil population. For Tamils from [inaudible], the wounds of the past
are not abstract history; they are living, unresolved realities. The case of [inaudible]—a
well-known Tamil journalist and cultural worker—is one of the most emblematic examples.
In the final days of the war, she was seen alive in the custody of the Sri Lankan army; shortly
thereafter, disturbing evidence emerged indicating that she had been subjected to sexual
violence and subsequently killed. Her fate reflects the experience of thousands of Tamil
women whose cases remain uninvestigated, unacknowledged, and unresolved. These
incidents are not isolated; they are part of a broader pattern of alleged war crimes, crimes
against humanity, as well as structural genocide and ongoing repression. Today, more than 16
years after the end of the genocidal war, no credible national mechanism has delivered
justice. On the contrary, impunity is entrenched, and the state continues to silence and
persecute Tamil victims and activists while obstructing the search for truth. As Tamils from
[inaudible], we continue to await international justice—not out of a desire for revenge, but
because it is a fundamental prerequisite for reconciliation, coexistence, and dignity; trust
cannot be built on denial, and social cohesion cannot be built on the erasure of victims. We
therefore urge UN member states to recognize that the situation in Sri Lanka requires the
strengthening, not the weakening, of international oversight. We call for the appointment of
a Special Rapporteur dedicated to Sri Lanka, with a mandate to investigate ongoing
violations. Furthermore, we reiterate the long-standing demand of Tamil victim groups and
civil society that Sri Lanka be referred to the International Criminal Court. Only through
genuine accountability can the foundations for peaceful coexistence be restored. Justice
delayed, which [CUT OFF BY CHAIR]
Merci, madame la Présidente, renforcer la confiance et la cohésion sociale au Sri
Lanka demeure impossible tant que l'état continue de nier, de minimiser et
d'obscurcir les graves atrocités commises contre la population tamoule. Pour les
Tamouls de [inaudible], les blessures du passé ne sont pas de l'histoire abstraite. Ce
sont des vérités vivantes et non résolues. Le cas de [inaudible], une journaliste et
travailleuse culturelle tamoule bien connue en est l'un des exemples les plus
emblématiques. Les derniers jours de la guerre, elle a été vue vivante sous la garde de
l'armée sri lankaise et peu après, des preuves troublantes ont émergé, indiquant
qu'elle a été victime de violences sexuelles, puis tuée. Son sort reflète l'expérience de
milliers de femmes tamoules dont les cas restent non enquêtés, non reconnus et non
résolus. Ces incidents ne sont pas isolés, ils s'inscrivent dans un schéma plus large de
crimes de guerre présumés, de crimes contre l'humanité, ainsi que de génocide
structurel et de répression en cours. Aujourd'hui, plus de 16 ans après la fin de la
guerre génocidaire, aucun mécanisme national crédible n'a rendu justice. Au
contraire, l'impunité est enracinée et l'État continue de réduire au silence les victimes
tamoules, de les persécuter, de persécuter les activistes tamouls et d'entraver la