The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) was established with the aim of safeguarding human rights, fostering peace, unity, brotherhood, and harmony, and creating a civilized and peaceful society. However, in certain cases, this charter—intended to protect rights—has been misapplied through domestic laws to violate individual rights. To address such concerns, the international community introduced the Rabat Action Plan, which requires a six-part investigation to determine whether the provisions of the ICCPR have been breached.
It has been revealed that while many countries have utilized this convention to uphold human rights, in some instances, it has also been exploited to justify violations. Against this backdrop, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa urged the government to ensure that the ICCPR is applied strictly for the protection of human rights and not as a tool for political persecution. He emphasized that the government must refrain from carrying out political revenge under the pretext of human rights violations.
Premadasa made these remarks during a meeting with members of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, led by Udaya Gammanpila, at the Opposition Leader’s Office today.
He stressed that the ICCPR should never be misused for political purposes and called for its proper implementation in line with its original and rightful objectives.
