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Scrap death Penalty in SL-HRC

1 October 2012 03:40 am - 20     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), in its report, which is to be taken into consideration during Sri Lanka's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), has recommended that the country should abolish the death penalty, officials said yesterday.

The HRCSL encouraged the government to enact the Right to Information Bill with necessary changes. The HRCSL and the External Affairs Ministry have produced their separate compilations on the human rights situation -which are to be evaluated during the country's UPR on November 1 in Geneva. Besides these, the Centre for Policy Alternatives, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and a media group have made their submissions.

HRCSL commissioner Dr. Prathiba Mahanamahewa told Daily Mirror that, though Sri Lanka had signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the country was yet to ratify one of the two Optional Protocols.

The First Optional Protocol establishes an individual complaints mechanism, allowing individuals to complain to the Human Rights Committee about violations of the Covenant.

The Second Optional Protocol abolishes the death penalty. However, countries were permitted to make a reservation allowing for use of death penalty for the most serious crimes of a military nature, committed during wartime.

"We recommended that Sri Lanka should do away with capital punishment. Death sentences can still be given. There are 339 convicts on death row. Though the death sentence is given, judicial executions are not carried out here. Therefore, it is better for us to abolish it from the statute book," said Dr. Mahanamahewa.

He said, "Those convicts have been on death row for years without being hanged or released.

Besides, the HRCSL stated in its report, Sri Lanka had yet to ratify and reflect in the national legal system the international human rights treaties, to strengthen the human rights framework in the country.

The HRCSL encouraged the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as recommended by Joint Submission 15 (JS15) and its Optional Protocol.  Implementation of international human rights obligations, taking into account applicable international humanitarian law, is another recommendation in the report. (Kelum Bandara)

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  Comments - 20

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  • wise man Monday, 01 October 2012 08:15 AM

    HRC must be represented by the proxies of the criminals They should be called the HUMAN RIGHTS OF CRIMINALS

    Prem Tuesday, 02 October 2012 05:26 AM

    I agree with you,but Presidential pardon should be abolished.

    Bulath Tuesday, 02 October 2012 04:45 AM

    Dont do the mistake of mixing Religon & Law which serve for diffrent resons.

    Don Monday, 01 October 2012 03:59 PM

    Ask United States abolish the death penalty first then we will think about it.

    saman Monday, 01 October 2012 12:18 PM

    Executions of child molesters, rapists, murderers, terrorists and their supporters are to be done in public! As entertaintment, durining the innings break in T20 world cup for example would be ideal.

    tishan Monday, 01 October 2012 12:13 PM

    In Sri Lanka inocents will be hanged.Criminals will go scot free.

    freelanced Monday, 01 October 2012 10:09 AM

    HRCSL is free to express their opinion at any time. But the decision to continue or scrap it lies with the judiciary, parliament and the executive. The problem here is the fact that the death penalty has never been executed for decades. This is one of the reasons for the supposed escalation in crimes.

    Scrapping the capital punishment will make room for even more HR violations and there is no reason to 'protect' anyine who has deprived someone of his 'right to live'.

    lk Monday, 01 October 2012 09:52 AM

    BUT we as citizens of lanka, want the death penalty implemented, to curb the crime rate!

    Roshan Monday, 01 October 2012 08:19 AM

    They don't , because they wanted to hang the Islamic Activists.

    Cancer Monday, 01 October 2012 08:18 AM

    The crime rate has increased considerably in the country. You read almost every day in the daily newspapers of murders, rapes, abduction etc. Criminals would think twice if the death sentence is enforced. The criminals doesn't understand dhamma !!

    Sri Monday, 01 October 2012 03:51 AM

    In a country that supposedly preaches the highest values of Bhuddhism, the Death penalty should be non existent.

    wise man Monday, 01 October 2012 08:14 AM

    Why isn't the Human Rights Activist do not look at the Human Rights aspect of the victims? This country definitely requires the capital punishment and if you have referendum tomorrow to ascertain this I am sure the majority would say YES to CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

    Maheshwaran Appu Monday, 01 October 2012 08:02 AM

    Joke of the Year !
    Are you blind HRC ???
    What do you think about HR of victims of these crimes ????
    Don't be a headache for ordinary mass !!!

    Dexter Monday, 01 October 2012 07:49 AM

    Implement the Death Penalty..... Are you crazy to request for this to be removed....

    Saradial Monday, 01 October 2012 07:34 AM

    Your comment is similar to HR activists support terrorists.

    Lanka Atappattu Monday, 01 October 2012 07:26 AM

    Abolish death penalty in USA!!!

    Suchith Monday, 01 October 2012 06:41 AM

    Unfortunately our country is not in a state to abolish the death penalty as yet. However, eventually, as society gets more civilized, like how it was around 40-50 years back, we can consider abolishing it. However, now is not the right time.

    mns Monday, 01 October 2012 05:40 AM

    If death sentence is given for crimes such as murder, rape, drug trafficking &if it is not implemented then why not legalize murdering, raping & drug trafficking etc

    bandula Monday, 01 October 2012 05:00 AM

    Implement Death Penalty to curb the Crime wave.

    Nodrog Monday, 01 October 2012 04:02 AM

    HRCSL is deeply concerned about the death-row convicts. What about the feelings and rights of the victims or their loved ones? Will HRCSL fund the maintenance of these criminals till they die or do they expect it to be at tax-payers expense?


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