Forced disappearances

Sri Lanka’s Government has a “historic opportunity” to end decades of impunity and deliver justice for victims of past violations, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) has said, urging sweeping reforms to address crimes committed during and after the country’s civil war.

Since the military coup in February 2021, nearly 6,800 civilians have been killed and over 22,000 remain arbitrarily detained, he said. Humanitarian needs have soared, with nearly 22 million people in need of assistance and more than 3.5 million displaced by conflict.

The orientation program is part of NLUO’s commitment to creating Child-Friendly Communities, and it marks a milestone in Project Kutumb’s mission to foster safer environments for vulnerable and at-risk children.

Many of these political prisoners, primarily arrested in the 1990s and early 2000s, remain behind bars without any hope of release, despite Bhutan’s claims that no such prisoners exist.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Justice for All expressed alarm over the deteriorating law and order situation, particularly as the nation undergoes significant political transition.

The number killed in violence last year was the highest since the military coup in 2021. Over 1,800 civilians were killed in 2024, many in indiscriminate airstrikes and artillery shelling, with attacks on schools, places of worship and healthcare facilities having become routine.

The mass mobilisation saw participation from people across different backgrounds, including women and children. Faced with this growing opposition, the former government resorted to increasingly violent means to maintain power. The UN report describes a deliberate strategy orchestrated at the highest levels of the former administration.

Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison last month on fresh corruption charges, a verdict he dismissed as politically motivated. His wife was also convicted and handed a seven-year sentence.