Permanent People's Tribunal on Sri Lanka: The 2022 Berlin Session
Between May 20 and 22, 2022, the city of Berlin, Germany, became the center of a significant international effort to address human rights issues in Sri Lanka. The third Permanent People's Tribunal on Sri Lanka was convened to examine systemic issues and provide a platform for accountability and justice.
This event was organized through the collaborative efforts of the International Human Rights Association based in Bremen and the Irish Forum for Peace in Sri Lanka, located in Dublin. These organizations sought to bring together a diverse group of global experts to review the situation in Sri Lanka from a human rights perspective.
Key Facts
- Event: Third Permanent People's Tribunal on Sri Lanka.
- Dates: May 20 to 22, 2022.
- Location: Berlin, Germany.
- Organizers: International Human Rights Association (Bremen) and the Irish Forum for Peace in Sri Lanka (Dublin).
- Composition: A multidisciplinary panel of international judges, activists, and scholars.
The Tribunal Panel
The tribunal was composed of a distinguished group of individuals representing various legal, political, and indigenous backgrounds. This diversity ensured that the proceedings incorporated perspectives from the Global South and specialized knowledge in international diplomacy and human rights law.
Legal and Diplomatic Experts
The panel included high-level diplomatic experience, notably featuring Denis Halliday, a former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations. Legal expertise was further bolstered by Flavia Carvalho, a Brazilian supreme court assistant judge and Afro-Brazilian feminist, and Gianni Tognoni, the General Secretary of the Permanent Peoples' Tribunal in Rome.
Human Rights and Geopolitical Scholars
Academic and geopolitical insights were provided by Ana Esther Cecena, Director of the Latin American Geopolitical Observatory and professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and Junaid S. Ahmad, Director of the Centre for the Study of Islam and Decoloniality in Islamabad.
Indigenous and Grassroots Leaders
The tribunal emphasized the voices of marginalized communities through the inclusion of Lourdes Esther Huanca Atencio (President of the National Federation of Female Peasants, Artisans, Indigenous, Native and Salaried Workers of Peru), Feliciano Valencia (former Colombian senator and Nasa Indigenous leader), and Lonko Juana Culfunao Paillal (Mapuche indigenous leader and founder of the Ethical Commission Against Torture).
International Activists and Political Figures
Rounding out the panel were Javier Giraldo Moreno, a Colombian theologian and Vice-President of the Permanent Peoples' Tribunal; Na'eem Jeenah, Executive Director of the Afro-Middle East Centre in South Africa; and Liza Maza, General Secretary of the International League of People's Struggle (ILPS) and former member of the Philippine House of Representatives.
Summary of Tribunal Participants
| Name | Primary Role/Affiliation | Region/Country |
|---|---|---|
| Denis Halliday | Former UN Assistant Secretary-General | International |
| Javier Giraldo Moreno | Vice-President, Permanent Peoples' Tribunal | Colombia |
| Ana Esther Cecena | Professor, National Autonomous University of Mexico | Mexico |
| Flavia Carvalho | Supreme Court Assistant Judge | Brazil |
| Lourdes Esther Huanca Atencio | President, National Federation of Female Peasants | Peru |
| Feliciano Valencia | Former Senator / Nasa Indigenous Leader | Colombia |
| Na'eem Jeenah | Executive Director, Afro-Middle East Centre | South Africa |
| Liza Maza | General Secretary, ILPS | Philippines |
| Lonko Juana Culfunao Paillal | Mapuche Leader / Ethical Commission Against Torture | Chile |
| Junaid S. Ahmad | Director, Centre for the Study of Islam and Decoloniality | Pakistan |
| Gianni Tognoni | General Secretary, Permanent Peoples' Tribunal | Italy |
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where did the third Permanent People's Tribunal on Sri Lanka take place?
The tribunal was held from May 20 to 22, 2022, in Berlin, Germany.
Who organized the Berlin session of the tribunal?
The event was organized by the International Human Rights Association in Bremen and the Irish Forum for Peace in Sri Lanka in Dublin.
What was the composition of the tribunal panel?
The panel consisted of 11 members, including former UN officials, supreme court judges, indigenous leaders from Peru, Colombia, and Chile, and human rights activists from South Africa, Pakistan, and the Philippines.
Who served as the General Secretary of the Permanent Peoples' Tribunal during this event?
Gianni Tognoni, based in Rome, served as the General Secretary.
Were there any indigenous representatives on the panel?
Yes, the panel included Lourdes Esther Huanca Atencio from Peru, Feliciano Valencia from Colombia, and Lonko Juana Culfunao Paillal from Chile.