United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Marc-André Franche, has raised concerns over the surveillance, threats, intimidation and reprisals faced by victims and families of forcibly disappeared persons, and human rights defenders, including in connection with memorialisation activities in Sri Lanka. 

Marc-André Franche said that all those engaged in exercising their rights must be protected, not punished. 

During his visit to Sri Lanka in June, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights met with families of the disappeared and reaffirmed that uncovering the truth is a fundamental right. His call to investigate mass grave sites underscores the urgency of confronting the past with courage and transparency. The United Nations continues to offer support in this process, he said. 

Marc-André Franche further said that on this day, and every day, the United Nations stands in solidarity with every family searching for their loved ones. 

“We remain committed to supporting credible, independent investigations of allegations of enforced disappearances to ensure victims and families can realize their rights to truth, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence,” he said, issuing a message on the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances 2025.

The full statement by the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka on the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances 2025; 

The fate of thousands of forcibly disappeared Sri Lankans from across the entire island remains unknown; a national wound left open by silence, inaction, and impunity. The pain of being left without answers about a loved one is a trauma that time alone cannot heal. It is a suffering that endures, deepened by the absence of truth and justice. The International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances is a day to honour the memory of all victims and their families and a solemn reminder that this violation under international human rights law must never be tolerated, excused, or forgotten. 

This year, we have seen renewed attention to this unresolved legacy with the ongoing excavations of mass grave sites. The recovery of human skeletal remains and personal belongings from these sites, including those of children, is a stark reminder of the scale of past grave human rights violations and the urgent need for credible, transparent and independent investigations. Uncovering facts will help bring closure to families – a prerequisite to healing, justice and reconciliation, and will pave the way for the nation to heal and look forward with confidence. 

Justice, truth and reparations are inseparable foundations of reconciliation, trust in institutions, and the sustainable peace that Sri Lankans have long sought. Sri Lanka has taken steps toward addressing this painful legacy, including ratifying the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, and establishing the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) and the Office for Reparations. These bodies must be supported with the resources, forensics and tracing capacity, and independence needed to deliver justice. The OMP, in particular, should prioritize tracing and investigation, using its full legal powers to deliver answers for families of the disappeared. The recent decision to invite the public to help identify items recovered from mass graves is a welcome step, but much more needs to be done. 

We also remain concerned by the surveillance, threats, intimidation and reprisals faced by victims, families, and human rights defenders including in connection with memorialisation activities. All those engaged in exercising their rights must be protected, not punished. 

During his visit to Sri Lanka in June, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights met with families of the disappeared and reaffirmed that uncovering the truth is a fundamental right. His call to investigate mass grave sites underscores the urgency of confronting the past with courage and transparency. The United Nations continues to offer support in this process. 

On this day—and every day—the United Nations stands in solidarity with every family searching for their loved ones. We remain committed to supporting credible, independent investigations of allegations of enforced disappearances to ensure victims and families can realize their rights to truth, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence. (Newswire)

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Resident Coordinator of the United Nations to Sri Lanka, Marc-André Franche, has raised concerns over the continuous detention of a group of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar in Sri Lanka. 

In a statement, Marc-André Franche said in December 2024, a group of 116 Rohingyas arrived in Sri Lanka by sea and since been in detention in Mullaitivu.

Commending the Government and the Sri Lanka Navy for rescuing them and providing humanitarian assistance, he urged the authorities to also provide access to the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in line with the long-standing agreement with the Government and proceed with registration. 

“The UNHCR has reiterated its offer to proceed with registration so they can be released from detention. As underlined to the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in line with the call of the United Nations Secretary-General to continue protecting the Rohingya people, we recall that prolonged detention infringes their rights and is an obstacle to durable solutions,” he added.

The UN Resident Coordinator to Sri Lanka, Marc-André Franche, pointed out that as the United Nations marks 8 years since the forced mass displacement from Rakhine State, Rohingya people in and outside of Myanmar are facing a further deterioration of their already dire circumstances. (Newswire)

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The United Nations Resident Coordinator (UNRC) for Sri Lanka, Marc-Andre Franche has reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to assist Sri Lanka in its development initiatives.

Marc-Andre Franche made the commitment while making a courtesy call to Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya at her office in Colombo yesterday (Oct 22).  

Extending his best wishes to the Prime Minister, the UN Resident Coordinator stated that the UN offered its support to Sri Lanka’s poverty reduction agenda and digitalisation programme.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the meeting also highlighted the issue of women’s empowerment with the UN stating that it was keen to assist the process in Sri Lanka. 

Secretary to the Prime Minister, Pradeep Saputhanthri, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mahinda Gunarathna, Director General of the United Nations and Human Rights Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dayani Mendis, along with Patrick Mc Carthy and Nethmini Medawala from the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator participated in the discussion. (Newswire)

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The newly appointed Permanent Resident Representative of the United Nations, Marc-André Franche engaged in discussions with the Opposition Leader, MP Sajith Premadasa at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition today (Aug. 30). 

According to the Opposition Leader’s Office, the meeting occurred subsequent to Marc-André Franche assuming his role in the country.

The meeting encompassed a comprehensive exchange of ideas and factual information regarding various socio-economic and political matters concerning Sri Lanka. 

Within this context, MP Premadasa provided insights to the new Permanent Resident Representative of the United Nations concerning the prevailing political landscape in the country. 

Additionally, attention was drawn to instances of infringements upon democratic rights, the postponement of elections, and violations of fundamental rights.

Representing the United Nations during this interaction was a delegation led by Azam Bakeer Makar (Development Coordination Officer) and Tharaka Hettiarachchi (Peace Window Coordinator). (NewsWire)

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Newly appointed United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Marc-André Franche, presented his Letter of Credence to President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday (July  24).

According to the United Nations Office in Sri Lanka, Franche expressed his appreciation to President Wickremesinghe for the longstanding partnership between the United Nations and Sri Lanka. 

He also reaffirmed the commitment of the UN Country Team to continue working together with the Government and people of Sri Lanka towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Recognizing the challenges of the current situation and pressures on the Sri Lankan people, Franche welcomed the progress that has been made towards stabilizing the economy. Further to the United Nations and its partners supporting the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic and humanitarian assistance reaching over 3.1 million people during the height of the crisis, he assured that the UN would remain committed to working alongside the Government for an inclusive and sustainable economic recovery, with a particular emphasis on the most vulnerable.

Franche and President Wickremesinghe further discussed the national commitments of Sri Lanka on the climate agenda as well as the continued efforts aimed at reconciliation, human rights and development initiatives that help improve the livelihoods and well-being of communities, including in the Northern and Eastern provinces.

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed Franche as the United Nations Resident Coordinator, with concurrence from the Government of Sri Lanka, on July 8, 2023.

Following the United Nations Development System Reform in 2019, the Resident Coordinator serves as the representative of the UN Secretary-General for development activities and the highest-ranking official of the UN system at the country level.

Franche leads a UN Country Team of 21 resident and non-resident entities dedicated to supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The contributions of the UN in Sri Lanka are guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027, signed with the Government in August 2022. It is mutually owned and anchored in national development priorities, the 2030 Agenda and the principles of human rights.

Franche brings to the position over 24 years of experience in international cooperation with the United Nations. Prior to his appointment as the UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, he was the Resident Representative of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Libya promoting better governance, local peacebuilding and sustainable growth and Chief of the UN Secretary General’s Peacebuilding Fund, supporting over 45 countries worldwide investing in innovative solutions to sustaining peace. He has also served as the Country Director for UNDP in Pakistan between 2013 to 2016, Deputy Director of UNDP in Haiti from 2008 to 2012, and has prior to that worked for the United Nations in New York, Colombia, and Bolivia. (NewsWire)

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