6 October 2011 10:20 am
Samarasinghe stated that the progress on the implementation of the Action Plan would be presented at the next UN Human Rights Council in March next year. Additionally the Action plan and progress reports on its implementation will be circulated to other countries and international organisations and forums interested in the Human Rights of Sri Lanka.
“We will give the action plan maximum publicity and inform everyone on the progress of implementing it,” he said.
The Action plan was officially adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers after a five week deliberation on the document that was formulated after a participatory process involving both government and Civil Society input. The action plan was a voluntary pledge during Sri Lanka’s Universal Periodic Review in May 2008 and is an action plan for five years.
The action plan is divided into eight thematic areas; civil and political rights, women’s rights, economic, social and cultural rights, children’s rights, labour rights, rights of migrant workers, the rights of IDPs’ and the prevention of torture.
The action plan will be implemented by the respective agencies in charge of each area of human rights as well as a coordinating committee, yet to be appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. (Dianne Silva)