UN HRHC to outline recommendations of Sri Lanka visit

by Manjula Fernando

The UN Human Rights High Commissioner’s report on his visit to Sri Lanka early this year will refer to the preliminary findings of the Special Rapporteurs on Torture and Independence of the Judiciary, the Sunday Observer learns.

The special Rapporteurs, who said Sri Lanka had much to do to eliminate torture and improve the independence of the judiciary, should present a report to the UN Human Rights Council(UNHRC) in March next year.

In his report to the Council in June, High Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein will outline the conclusions and recommendations stemming from his visit to Sri Lanka in February.An authoritative source said the office of the Human Rights High Commissioner is currently drafting the final report on Sri Lanka, also incorporating preliminary observations of the Special Rapporteurs.

The Special Rapporteurs Juan E. Méndez and Monica Pinto visited Sri Lanka early March on a week-long observation mission. At the conclusion of the visit they said much of the institutional structures of a warring nation was still intact in Sri Lanka.

At the March HRC sessions, the High Commissioner said Sri Lanka was on its own journey towards accountability, reconciliation and durable peace.

He said, “Important steps have been taken to reform the Constitution, revive independent institutions and restore an environment for free expression and debate.”

He identified the release of land held by the military, reviewing the cases of security detainees and resolving the issue of disappearances, as issues needing further progress.

The two Special Rapporteurs are scheduled to file their reports to the UN HRC in March 2017 and June 2017. Mendez told the Sunday Observer that they hoped their reports will merit a debate at the UN General Assembly as well.