five individuals (male and female)

Cases
Location of case in SG report
2025-117-001
Relevant SG report
Year of the report
2025
Country Geolocation

Latitude: 7.87305399999999

Longitude: 80.7717969999999

Country Geolocation (linked Cases)
Sri Lanka
From Region
Type of record
Unnamed individual/group/organization
Was the victim a foreign national?
No
Was the victim a minor?
No
Individual's/organization's activity

All five individuals are from the northern and eastern regions of the country.

Type of rights defended
  • Unclear in SG Report
Was the victim a civil servant or member of the security forces or of the judiciary?
No
Reported trigger of reprisal

engagement with United Nations human rights bodies and mechanisms.

Engagement with UN body
  • Unclear
Type of attempted engagement
  • Unclear
Location of mentioned reprisals
Sri Lanka
Reprisal information
  1. During the reporting period, OHCHR documented harassment and intimidation by state security officials against five individuals (male and female) due to their engagement with United Nations human rights bodies and mechanisms. All five individuals are from the northern and eastern regions of the country. Names and details of those concerned are withheld due to fear of further reprisals. OHCHR is following the situation of those concerned.
  2. Three of the five individuals concerned collaborated with OHCHR on a public report. Following the release of the report, state security officials reportedly summoned and interrogated the individuals involved, as well as their family members, questioning their negative portrayal of the country to the international community and inquiring who the sources behind the report were. The other two individuals were questioned by officials of the Counter-Terrorism Investigation Division about their previous visits to Geneva and participation in the Human Rights Council, and/or activities of their organization.
Types of reprisals suffered
  • Charge/Investigation/Prosecution: Charge/Investigation/Prosecution - General
  • Family/friends/acquaintances targeted
  • Threats/Intimidations (incl. "fear of reprisal")
Alleged/likely perpetrators
State actors
Was the reprisal based on new legislation?
No
Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?
No
Further case development
  1. During the reporting period, OHCHR documented harassment and intimidation by state security officials against five individuals (male and female) due to their engagement with United Nations human rights bodies and mechanisms. All five individuals are from the northern and eastern regions of the country. Names and details of those concerned are withheld due to fear of further reprisals. OHCHR is following the situation of those concerned.
  2. Three of the five individuals concerned collaborated with OHCHR on a public report. Following the release of the report, state security officials reportedly summoned and interrogated the individuals involved, as well as their family members, questioning their negative portrayal of the country to the international community and inquiring who the sources behind the report were. The other two individuals were questioned by officials of the Counter-Terrorism Investigation Division about their previous visits to Geneva and participation in the Human Rights Council, and/or activities of their organization.
Is the country cited for a "pattern of reprisal" in the context of this case?
No
Is a pattern of reprisals mentioned otherwise in the context of this case?
No
Does the report cite "self-censorship" as an issue in the context of this case?
Yes