Human Rights Watch has issued a formal warning regarding Sri Lanka’s proposed organised crime legislation, cautioning that the draft legal framework presents severe risks of human rights violations and procedural abuses.
The advocacy organization emphasized that legislative measures targeting organized crime must strictly comply with internationally recognized human rights standards. Broad or vaguely defined provisions in security and crime legislation can grant disproportionate authority to law enforcement bodies, potentially undermining due process, enabling arbitrary detentions, and restricting civil liberties.
Key Concerns Raised
- Risk of Rights Violations: Broad mandates within organized crime statutes risk facilitating state-level abuses and improper detentions.
- Need for Robust Safeguards: Legal frameworks must include rigorous judicial oversight, clear definitions of offenses, and protections for detainees.
- International Obligations: Legislation must align with Sri Lanka’s commitments under international human rights treaties.
Human rights monitors continue to urge lawmakers to subject the bill to comprehensive parliamentary scrutiny and public consultation to ensure security objectives do not compromise basic constitutional guarantees.