HRCSL recommendations : Permit burials as well as cremations of bodies of the Covid-19 victims while adhering to health guidelines

Image courtesy of Voice of America.

26/11/2020

Issuing observations and recommendations on the disposal of dead bodies in
the context of COVID-19 Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has called on the government to take these recommendations  into consideration and that the
Gazette be amended accordingly.

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HRCSI observations and recommendations on the disposal of dead bodies in
the context of COVID-19

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka received complaints and expressions of concern from persons of various religious groups including Muslims, Christians and Buddhists on their inability to perform final religious rites after the death of persons in the context of Covid-19. Amongst the concerns raised, are the forcible removal of bodies, lack of a standard process for determining whether the deceased person has, in fact, succumbed to the virus, lack of transparency surrounding the process and doubt as to the mandatory cremation requirement. Further, the Commission has received numerous appeals to the same effect from family members of people who have been declared as having died of the Covid-19 virus.

While the Commission fully recognizes the need to impose restrictions on certain fundamental rights to protect public health at this time, the Commission is mandated to examine whether such restrictions are compatible with the relevant Constitutional provisions and international human rights obligations.

Read as a PDF: Observations-Recommendations-Disposal-Dead-Bodies-Covid19_compressed

 

Observations-Recommendation... by Thavam Ratna