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Before heading to Geneva, FM to brief Colombo-based diplomats
View(s):Colombo-based diplomats will be briefed by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath on the progress made on addressing human right related issues in the past year before he leaves for Geneva to attend the 60th UN Human Rights Council sessions which start on September 8.
The meeting has been called to give an overview of the progress made in strengthening domestic intuitions in addressing accountability issues since the new Government took office last September.
These include steps taken to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism (PTA) Act and the setting up of an Independent Prosecutors Office, Mr.Herath told the Sunday Times.
He said that the Government’s refusal to allow any international role in investigating past human rights violations in Sri Lanka remained unchanged and he would reiterate this stance during his address to the HRC.
However, he will give a detailed briefing on the progress made in strengthening domestic institutions since the NPP came to power as well as its crackdown on corruption.
Meanwhile, the UN Human Rights High Commissioner, Volker Türk, who visited Sri Lanka in June will present his report on the “Situation of human rights in Sri Lanka.’ at the sessions.
In his report, a copy of which was released earlier this month, Mr. Turk urged the Government to consider using international legal options to advance accountability in Sri Lanka.
He also requested the Government to create an enabling environment for transitional justice by acceding to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and implementing confidence-building measures. This should include releasing military-held lands, halting new land seizures and accelerating titling efforts in the north and east, releasing all long-term detainees under the PTA , supporting victim’s memorialisation initiatives and ensuring impartiality of the Office on Missing Persons through measures that included seeking international expertise and monitoring to build its credibility.
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