FREQUENT REPORTING TOUNHRC AVERTED
Report to be submitted next year
The attempt by the United States (US) to include a clause binding Sri Lanka to report to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) frequent- ly on the progress made with regard to the human rights situation was excluded from the final draft of the resolution, diplomatic sources said yesterday.
Accordingly, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is now required only to submit its report on Sri Lanka to the UNHRC at its 22nd session, which is scheduled for next year,
The US did away with this clause only after intervention by India. though India voted for the resolution along with the US, it had weakened the resolution against Sri Lanka by bringing in some new clauses.
about the steps taken by the government of Sri Lanka regarding the allegations of violations of human rights during the latter part of the war and towards implementing the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).
Diplomatic sources said that the US did away with this clause only after intervention by India. According to sources, though India voted for the resolution along with the US, it had weakened the resolution
Apart from this, Sri Lanka’s issue is to be discussed during the Universal Periodic Review scheduled for September
against Sri Lanka by bringing in some new clauses. A clause that had been included in the final version of the resolution at the insistence of India says, “The Human Rights Council encourages the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and relevant special procedures mandate holders to provide, in consultation with, and with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka, advice and technical assistance on implementing the above mentioned steps, and requests the office of the High Commissioner to pres- ent a report on the provision of such assistance to the Human Rights Council at its twenty second session.
“Had the initial resolution been adopted, it would have necessitated Sri Lanka’s making frequent reports with the involvement of the High Commissioner,” diplomatic sources said.
Apart from this, Sri Lanka’s issue is to be discussed during the Universal Periodic Review scheduled for September, this year.