Banned from CHOGM: Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers

Gabriela Knaul discusses options that exist for bringing accountability and democracy, human rights and rule of law to rogue states like Sri Lanka

Mrs. Gabriela Knaul, Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers. Photo: plantaonews.com.br

(GENEVA) - The Sri Lankan government blocked the conference titled "Commonwealth Values to Protect Democracy" scheduled to be held today in Colombo.

Among the speakers was Mrs. Gabriela Knaul, Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers.

She discusses options that exist for bringing accountability and democracy, human rights and rule of law to rogue states like Sri Lanka, a nation charged with egregious human rights violations and war crimes which ironically, is hosting the 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

For the Tamil population of Sri Lanka and India and human rights activists all over the world, this is an outrage, to say the least.

The Sri Lankan government exterminated up to 160,000 Tamils during the closing months of the country's bitter, nearly three-decade long civil war.

Held every two years, CHOGM's intended purpose is to enable leaders of Commonwealth countries to come together to discuss global and Commonwealth issues, and to decide on collective policies and initiatives.

Here is her speech now given on video.