UN to fund accountability process in Lanka

Saturday, 6 June 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The United Nations yesterday said that it is working with Sri Lanka to fund building peace through reconciliation and accountability by addressing the critical core grievances of minorities in an inclusive and consultative manner.

The UN Country team is working with its counterparts – coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – and finalising an initiative for support from the UN Peacebuilding Fund.

The Peacebuilding Fund will support Sri Lanka, initially with $3 million, to establish and operationalize processes for building peace through reconciliation and accountability by addressing the critical core grievances of minorities in an inclusive and consultative manner.

In particular, with the support of the Fund, the UN is looking at supporting the Government in four areas including through technical support to establish an inclusive and credible domestic mechanism to address human rights violations and accountability and provide redress to victims and conflict affected groups, including families of the missing, in line with international standards.

This was revealed by Subinay Nandy, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Sri Lanka at the Donor Conference on the Comprehensive Policy Framework and Formulation of the Resettlement Action Plan held today.

“We in the UN are encouraged as we continue working closely with the Government of Sri Lanka, and see the consultation today as an important step in part of a longstanding partnership to ensure durable and lasting solutions for all internally displaced persons,” Nandy said.

Nandy said the UN is ready to support the Government in understanding the nature and scale of the issues in Sri Lanka, and to look at joint and innovative solutions. He also said the UN would also encourage the adoption of a coordinated approach by all development partners to maximise aid effectiveness. (Colombo Gazette)