Sri Lanka: ARTICLE 19's Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review

24 Apr 2012

The Sri Lankan Government received and accepted a number of recommendations related to the right of freedom of expression during the first UPR cycle:

To take measures to safeguard freedom of expression and protect human rights defenders, and effectively investigate allegations of attacks on journalists, media personnel and human rights defenders and prosecute those responsible
To take measures to improve safeguards for freedom of the press
To adopt effective measures to ensure the full realisation of the right to freedom of expression for all persons.

None of these accepted recommendations have been realised. This submission provides information on developments since, specifically:

On-going violence against journalists and human rights defenders (HRDs)
Continued media censorship and other interferences to media freedom
An insufficient and inadequate legal framework for freedom of expression and information.