HRC44: Oral statement during ID with Special Rapporteur on Peaceful Assembly

Agenda Item 3:ID with Special Rapporteur on Peaceful Assembly

Organisation: Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)

Speaker: Claire Denman

Thank you, Madame President

CSW thanks the Special Rapporteur for his annual report, country visits and for his continued work.

We welcome the report on his country visit to Sri Lanka’s focus on ethno-religious violence among other issues, and fully support the Special Rapporteur’s call to immediately tackle ethnic and religious discrimination in Sri Lanka.

Threats to the right to freedom of assembly and association, freedom of religion or belief and other human rights, have been made more pronounced by the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

As in many countries, the Sri Lankan government has responded to the crisis by issuing bans on mass gatherings, including for religious services.

It is essential that these measures are implemented in line with the provisions laid out in the UDHR, that they are applied without discrimination, and that they are proportional to the threat of COVID-19.

The report details the spread of violent content against religious minorities online, particularly in the aftermath of the 2019 Easter Sunday Bombings. This has seen a resurgence throughout the current COVID-19 crisis, with rampant online hatred and racism on mainstream and social media.

Both Christians and Muslims have been blamed as vectors of COVID-19, including by government officials and prominent figures from within the media.

We call on Sri Lanka to crack down on hate speech against religious minorities, including in online fora, holding those responsible to account, whilst also ensuring that the right to freedom of expression is fully respected.

Finally, we call on Sri Lanka to respect Muslim and Christian funeral rites, allowing the communities to bury their dead, which is permitted according to WHO guidelines.

Thank you