• About us
  • Contact us
Thursday, November 30, 2023
No 1 epaper in Sri Lanka
  • News
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Foreign
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Political Analysis
  • Inside Politics
  • EPAPERPDF
  • සිංහලSINHALA
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Foreign
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Political Analysis
  • Inside Politics
  • EPAPERPDF
  • සිංහලSINHALA
No Result
View All Result
Mawratanews.lk | Sri Lanka Latest Sinhala News and Headlines
No Result
View All Result
Home News

NGOs advocating for human rights want the United Nations to pass a resolution critical of Sri Lanka.

September 13, 2022
in News
A A
NGOs advocating for human rights want the United Nations to pass a resolution critical of Sri Lanka.

In a letter to member states published today, four international human rights organisations urge the United Nations Human Rights Council to adopt a strong resolution on Sri Lanka that strengthens current UN mandates on accountability for crimes under international law and monitors the country’s worsening human rights situation.

The Rights Groups said that Sri Lanka should be urged to end its use of the harsh Prevention of Terrorism Act as part of the resolution’s call to address ongoing abuses (PTA).

There is a severe economic, political, and human rights crisis in Sri Lanka at the moment. Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned as president in the midst of widespread protests in July 2022, and since then, his successor, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has employed excessive security measures to silence dissent. Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet issued a comprehensive report on September 6 in which she stated, “Sri Lankans came together… in a mass protest movement to demand greater transparency, accountability for corruption and economic mismanagement and increased participation in democratic life.” She urged the government to protect the rights of protesters, put an end to impunity for past violations, and address the underlying causes of the current crisis.

Human Rights Watch’s South Asia director Meenakshi Ganguly said, “For many years, victims of past abuses in Sri Lanka have demanded justice, while successive governments have broken promises, blocked accountability, and promoted those implicated in war crimes to high office.” “The UN Human Rights Council ought to pass a resolution on Sri Lanka that urges the government to uphold accountability and the rule of law,” the author writes.

The United Nations has been tasked with monitoring the situation in Sri Lanka and reporting its findings at the 51st session of the Human Rights Council, which began on September 12. At this session, member states will review and update a resolution passed in March 2021 that established a UN accountability project to collect and prepare evidence of international crimes committed in Sri Lanka for use in future prosecutions. Amnesty International, FORUM ASIA, Human Rights Watch, and the International Commission of Jurists all agreed in a letter that it is crucial to renew and strengthen these mandates, including by providing more funding.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights wrote in her report that “deepening militarization and lack of transparency and accountability in governance… have embedded impunity for serious human rights violations and created an environment for corruption and the abuse of power.” Since accountability is lacking on the island nation’s end, she recommended that UN member states bring Sri Lankans accused of international crimes to trial abroad under the principle of universal jurisprudence. Noting that there are still unanswered questions over the role of the Sri Lankan security forces, the high commissioner also called for an international role in investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed over 250 people.

According to Massimo Frigo, UN representative and senior legal adviser at the International Commission of Jurists, “the high commissioner has presented clear findings that require urgent international action to end impunity and provide for justice to Sri Lankans.” Human Rights Council involvement in Sri Lanka over the past decade has given victims hope while yielding only scattered, unfulfilled promises of reform; the council must continue to focus on this issue.

After President Wickremesinghe took office on July 21st, he immediately ordered the military to use force against protesters and arrested dozens of people on suspicion of taking part in the demonstrations. He has ordered the arrest and indefinite detention of three student leaders under the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act. The former minister of foreign affairs, G.L. In June, Foreign Minister Pieris assured the Human Rights Council that the government would not implement the law, and in March, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry assured the parliament of Sri Lanka that the same would be true.

Three human rights abuse alleged parties were appointed as government ministers by President Wickremesinghe on September 8. Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, better known by his nom de guerre, Pillayan, was a member of a separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) unit before defecting to a pro-government armed group responsible for the kidnapping and enlistment of child soldiers. The attorney general dismissed murder charges against him in 2001, stemming from a slaying of a lawmaker in 2005. Lohan Ratwatte, a new minister, resigned in September 2021 as prisons minister after he threatened inmates with a gun. Sanath Nishantha, the third, is being questioned by police regarding a May 9 violent attack on anti-government protesters.

According to Ahmed Adam, manager of the UN advocacy programme at FORUM-ASIA, “these ministerial appointments show that the Wickremesinghe administration cannot be expected to credibly pursue accountability for human rights violations or uphold the rule of law.” To protect the rights of the people in Sri Lanka, the Human Rights Council must adopt a “robust and clear-eyed resolution” to address the current situation, which is “alarming.”

The organisations wrote to the member states to demand that the new Human Rights Council resolution address human rights violations and threats in Sri Lanka as a result of the current crisis. Government should be urged in the resolution to do the following:

Allow people the freedom to peacefully demonstrate and express their opinions without fear of being retaliated against or arrested;

Stop targeting and intimidating people who are thought to have participated in or supported the recent protests, and stop making arbitrary arrests;

The Prevention of Terrorism Act should be repealed, a temporary moratorium placed on its use, the detention of those currently being held under the Act should be reviewed, those who are not facing internationally recognised charges should be released immediately, and everyone who is currently being held under the Act, including those in pretrial detention, should be tried promptly and fairly in a regular court; and

The Human Rights Commission and the Judicial Branch must regain their autonomy.

According to Amnesty International’s South Asia director Yamini Mishra: “We have seen successive Sri Lankan governments make commitments to the Human Rights Council that are then broken or disavowed.” The UN’s mandates to monitor the situation and pursue accountability for past abuses should be renewed and enhanced, and member states should put pressure on Sri Lanka to live up to its commitments and demand immediate action to stop the abuses.

Share50Tweet32Send
Previous Post

This IMF agreement will be shared with the cabinet, opposition leader, and committee chairs:

Next Post

Lazard in talks with China, India, Japan on Sri Lanka debt

MORE NEWS

Petroleum Puzzle: 1.7 Crore Worth of Oil Vanishes en Route to Milco! Unraveling the Mystery!  Audit report I Sri Lanka Latest News
News

Petroleum Puzzle: 1.7 Crore Worth of Oil Vanishes en Route to Milco! Unraveling the Mystery! Audit report I Sri Lanka Latest News

November 29, 2023
Sri Lanka’s Economic Resurgence: President Wickremesinghe Calls for Radical Restructuring at 2023 Economic Summit I Sri Lanka Latest News
News

Sri Lanka’s Economic Resurgence: President Wickremesinghe Calls for Radical Restructuring at 2023 Economic Summit I Sri Lanka Latest News

November 29, 2023
Jerome Fernando is back in Sri Lanka! Sri Lanka Latest News
News

Jerome Fernando is back in Sri Lanka! Sri Lanka Latest News

November 29, 2023
Major milestone in construction of 10,000 houses under Phase-IV of Indian Housing Project  I Sri Lanka Latest News
News

Major milestone in construction of 10,000 houses under Phase-IV of Indian Housing Project I Sri Lanka Latest News

November 29, 2023
Strong opposition from the back row against the leaders of Pohottuwa who did not say a word when Roshan was sacked! I Sri Lanka Latest News
News

Strong opposition from the back row against the leaders of Pohottuwa who did not say a word when Roshan was sacked! I Sri Lanka Latest News

November 29, 2023
The President has appointed Deshbandu as acting Inspector General of Police! I Sri Lanka Latest News
News

The President has appointed Deshbandu as acting Inspector General of Police! I Sri Lanka Latest News

November 29, 2023
Load More

Free Newsletter

Register for our weekly epaper for latest news updates.

MORE NEWS

Acting Inspector General of Police Deshbandu Tennakoon for 3 months? Name to be submitted from the President to the Legislative Assembly? I Sri Lanka Latest News
News

Acting Inspector General of Police Deshbandu Tennakoon for 3 months? Name to be submitted from the President to the Legislative Assembly? I Sri Lanka Latest News

November 29, 2023

According to political sources, President Ranil Wickremesinghe is going to forward...

Read more
Mahinda is in a mishap on the Kurunegala highway! The glass of the luxury jeep is broken! Johnston was inside the jeep! PHOTO I Sri Lanka Latest News

Mahinda is in a mishap on the Kurunegala highway! The glass of the luxury jeep is broken! Johnston was inside the jeep! PHOTO I Sri Lanka Latest News

November 29, 2023
The former health secretary suddenly fell ill when the CID started questioning the immunoglobulin drug! Admitted to a famous private hospital in Colombo! I Sri Lanka Latest News

The former health secretary suddenly fell ill when the CID started questioning the immunoglobulin drug! Admitted to a famous private hospital in Colombo! I Sri Lanka Latest News

November 29, 2023
Netherlands returned to Sri Lanka this morning two gold chestnuts – two knives – two silver chestnuts and two guns which were over 150 years old! I Sri Lanka Latest News

Netherlands returned to Sri Lanka this morning two gold chestnuts – two knives – two silver chestnuts and two guns which were over 150 years old! I Sri Lanka Latest News

November 29, 2023
The OCC has given Sri Lanka a debt restructuring plan: sources   I  Sri Lanka Latest News

The OCC has given Sri Lanka a debt restructuring plan: sources I Sri Lanka Latest News

November 29, 2023
It is not written anywhere in the history of the world that a public representative received death threats from the executive! Do not sacrifice political image for a ‘royal’ friend! Dallas rise for Roshan! VIDEO I Sri Lanka Latest News

It is not written anywhere in the history of the world that a public representative received death threats from the executive! Do not sacrifice political image for a ‘royal’ friend! Dallas rise for Roshan! VIDEO I Sri Lanka Latest News

November 29, 2023
Load More

One of the best Sri Lanka Latest News Website and Sinhala language newspaper with Sunday editions, published by Free Media Independent Networks Pvt Ltd.

Browse by Category

  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Foreign
  • Gallary
  • Gurudawa
  • My Serendib
  • News
  • Politics
  • Rajya Rahas
  • Sports
  • Uncategorized

Latest news

Acting Inspector General of Police Deshbandu Tennakoon for 3 months? Name to be submitted from the President to the Legislative Assembly? I Sri Lanka Latest News

Acting Inspector General of Police Deshbandu Tennakoon for 3 months? Name to be submitted from the President to the Legislative Assembly? I Sri Lanka Latest News

November 29, 2023
Mahinda is in a mishap on the Kurunegala highway! The glass of the luxury jeep is broken! Johnston was inside the jeep! PHOTO I Sri Lanka Latest News

Mahinda is in a mishap on the Kurunegala highway! The glass of the luxury jeep is broken! Johnston was inside the jeep! PHOTO I Sri Lanka Latest News

November 29, 2023

Free Newsletter

Register for our weekly epaper for latest news updates.
  • About us
  • Contact us

Copyright © 2019 -2021 Free Media Independent Networks Pvt Ltd, All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Foreign
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Political Analysis
  • Inside Politics
  • EPAPER
  • සිංහල

Copyright © 2019 -2021 Free Media Independent Networks Pvt Ltd, All Rights Reserved.

Go to mobile version