Sri Lanka one of the few countries in the Asian region that is party to all seven core international human rights instruments- Minister Samaraweera [Monday, May 29, 2006 - 9.30 GMT]

The Permanent Standing Committee (PSC) on Human Rights, co-chaired by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Minister of Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe, met at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday 25^th May.

The Minister of Human Rights will lead the Sri Lanka delegation to the inaugural session of the UN Human Rights Council, which will commence in Geneva on 19^th June. Sri Lanka was elected to the HR Council at the election held on 9^th May in New York.

The PSC decided to establish the Inter Ministerial Committee on Human Rights chaired by Minister of Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe, and comprising senior officials of the Ministries of Human Rights, Foreign Affairs, Defence, Justice, Constitutional Affairs, the Attorney General’s Department, the Armed Forces, the Police Department and the SCOPP. This Committee is expected to meet on a regular basis, especially with regard to implementing the decisions relating to human rights and have a continuing monitoring and overseeing function on human rights matters. The first meeting of the Inter Ministerial Committee is scheduled to be held on 7^th June 2006.

In his opening remarks, Minister Samaraweera said that co chairing the Permanent Standing Committee with the Minister of Human Rights was a manifestation of the shared commitment of both Ministries to promote and protect human rights. He added that “this commitment is derived not only from the mandates of our respective Ministries, but also from our Constitutional obligations and international commitments.”

The Minister also stated that Sri Lanka was one of the few countries in the Asian region that has become a party to all seven core international human rights instruments. Given the above international commitments Sri Lanka has undertaken as an active member of the international community it became necessary for the Government to establish an effective mechanism to translate Sri Lanka’s international commitments into domestic policies and legislation and to ensure that all human rights violations are properly investigated and perpetrators brought to justice. As a result, under the direction of late Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar the Permanent Standing Committee on Human Rights was formed in 2000.

Minister of Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe in his opening remarks stated that his Ministry has initiated a 10 year road map for disaster management and human rights. He further said that an Advisory Committee had been appointed to the Minister consisting of state actors and civil society leaders, to report to the Minister on the human rights situation in the country and undertake field visits.

The Minister highlighted the importance of taking to a conclusion, investigations into human rights violations and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

The decisions taken by the Permanent Standing Committee will serve as the roadmap for the future work of the Government in addressing human rights issues. Other decisions adopted by the Standing Committee included;

- appointing a Working Group to study and make recommendations with regard to the implementation of the recommendations made by UN Human Rights Treaty bodies;

- appointing a committee to draft a Human Rights Charter as enunciated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his policy statement on foreign affairs;

 - expediting the submissions of all pending reports to the UN Human Rights Treaty bodies;

- further enhancing the ongoing human rights education programmes conducted by the Security Forces and Police. It was noted that Sri Lanka’s commitment to the promotion of international humanitarian law has been recognized by the ICRC as a model for other countries in the region;
 
- The Standing Committee also decided to initiate a regular consultation process with national human rights institutions, NGOs and civil society. 

The Attorney General, Secretary to the President and Secretaries to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Justice, Finance, Defence, Chief of Defence Staff and the Commanders of the Security Forces, IGP and SG/SCOPP participated at the meeting.

 

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Last Updated Date: May  29, 2006 -9.30 GMT