Human Rights Watch says Sri Lanka dodged questions on women’s rights at UN committee

Saturday, 4 March 2017 00:27 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The global human rights organisation, Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticised the Sri Lankan delegation which appeared before the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee), on 22 February, for being unprepared to respond to the questions the committee raised.

Brad Adams, Asia Director of HRW, said in a statement said in sending a delegation to the CEDAW Committee unprepared to answer obvious questions, the Government betrays a lack of commitment to women’s rights issues.

In the statement, the HRW pointed out that it was the country’s eighth periodic review, and the questions that the committee would raise were no mystery since the CEDAW Committee and Sri Lankan civil society groups have had steady dialogue with the Government over their concerns.

“But the Government delegation seemed incapable or unwilling to address any issues of substance regarding women’s rights: discriminatory marriage laws, land and livelihood concerns, and strengthening laws that protect women, to name just a few,” the HRW said.

“Instead, the delegation fell back on platitudinous responses that existing laws were sufficient to meet the Government’s obligations and that constitutional amendments now under consideration will address other issues.”

According to HRW, of particular concern was the delegation’s inability to answer questions related to the role women will play in current efforts to seek truth, justice, and reconciliation for the widespread human rights abuses committed during Sri Lanka’s 26-year-long civil war, which ended in 2009.

“When it became clear that the committee wasn’t about to let the delegation off the hook, Sri Lanka’s long-time Geneva Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha rose to respond. But instead of providing direct answers, he delivered a preview of Sri Lanka’s presentation to the Human Rights Council during its 34th session,” Adams said in the statement.

“Governments and human rights activists watching Sri Lanka over the next few weeks during its review at the Human Rights Council would do well to remember Sri Lanka’s appalling performance before the CEDAW Committee. No one at the council should let Sri Lanka dodge critical questions a second time around,” he said.

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