More countries support resolution on Sri Lanka at UNHRC

Monday, 20 March 2017 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

More countries extended support to the resolution on Sri Lanka submitted to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) last week, strengthening Sri Lanka’s request for more time to address issues on accountability over the war.

Titled ‘Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka’, the draft text of the resolution had, as its main sponsors, Montenegro, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the UK and Northern Ireland and the US.

Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan and Norway have now extended support to the draft text. Sri Lanka is a co-sponsor of the resolution. The follow-up draft resolution on Sri Lanka was submitted to the UNHRC before the deadline for submissions ended last week.

The deadline for submission of draft resolutions for the ongoing 34th session of the UN Human Rights Council was Thursday, 16 March and the deadline for amendments after submission is 21 March.

The resolution calls on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to assess progress on the implementation of its recommendations and other relevant processes related to reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka, and to present a written update to the Human Rights Council at its 37th sessions, and a comprehensive report followed by discussion on the implementation of resolution 30/1 at its 40th session.

The resolution also “takes note with appreciation the comprehensive report presented by the United Nations High Commissioner to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-fourth session, as requested by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 30/1, and requests the Government of Sri Lanka to fully implement the measures identified in Human Rights Council resolution 30/1 that are outstanding.” (Colombo Gazette)