UN Member States can refer the situation in Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court (ICC), apply targeted sanctions against State officials responsible for grave human rights violations and pursue investigation and prosecution of international crimes committed by all parties in Sri Lanka before their own national courts, UN Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet said in the Advance unedited version of her report on Sri Lanka. She said all parties who committed crimes in Sri Lanka can be tried before domestic courts, including under accepted principles of extraterritorial or universal jurisdiction. The reported titled ‘Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka’ was released yesterday and would be tabled to the UN Human Rights Council’s (UNHRC) 46th session to be held from 22 February-19 March. In the report conclusions, the High Commissioner said member states have a number of options to advance criminal accountability and provide measures of redress for victims in Sri Lanka. “The High Commissioner encourages Member States to work with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), victims and their representatives to promote such avenues for accountability, including through opening investigations into possible international crimes, and to support a dedicated capacity to advance these efforts. “Member States can also apply targeted sanctions, such as asset freezes and travel bans against State officials and other actors credibly alleged to have committed or be responsible for grave human rights violations or abuses, as well as support initiatives that provide practical benefits to victims and their families,” the report said. The High Commissioner recommended that the Human Rights Council and Member States to explore possible targeted sanctions such as asset freezes and travel bans against credibly alleged perpetrators of grave human rights violations and abuses; Apply stringent vetting procedures to Sri Lankan police and military personnel identified for military exchanges and training programmes and Cooperate with victims and their representatives to investigate and prosecute international crimes committed by all parties in Sri Lanka through judicial proceedings in domestic jurisdictions, including under accepted principles of extraterritorial or universal jurisdiction. The High Commissioner recommended that the Government of Sri Lanka should remove from office security personnel and other public officials credibly implicated in human rights violations, in compliance with human rights standards and implement other reforms of the security sector to strengthen and ensure accountability and civilian oversight.