Halt excessive scrutiny of nations - SL tells Human Rights Council

6 March 2024 09:02 am - 15 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lanka has called for the UN Human Rights Council to halt its excessive scrutiny of nations in the global south through intrusive mechanisms while ignoring violations elsewhere to regain credibility.

Sri Lanka also expressed disappointment that the Council’s persistent and disproportionate attention on Sri Lanka is not beneficial to the nation.

Speaking at the 55th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka Himalee Subhashini Arunatilaka, underscored the urgent need for the global human rights framework to uphold objectivity and universality, and ensure that alleged violations are addressed impartially, regardless of the size or the influence of the country concerned.

She said that in Gaza, the disregard for human rights and international law is starkly apparent, emphasizing the urgent need for immediate ceasefire and measures to ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need.“the failure to address such profound suffering of civilians undermines the credibility of the international human rights framework including this Council, established for the promotion and protection of human rights.”

“Polarization of this Council through politicization of human rights is a hindrance to achieve its objectives as mandated by the GA Resolutions 60/251 and 48/141,” she said.

Measures to protect human rights of a country must be guided by the founding principles of this Council and conducted through constructive dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect, considering national complexities and challenges, she said.

The Council must cease its disproportionate scrutiny of nations in the global south through intrusive mechanisms, while turning a blind eye to violations elsewhere, in order to restore its credibility.

“Unfortunately, this does not appear to be the case with regard to Sri Lanka, where the Council´s continuous and disproportionate focus on Sri Lanka is unhelpful to the country concerned,” she said.

Notwithstanding our rejection of the HRC resolutions, Sri Lanka will continue to engage constructively with the Council, sharing our progress on reconciliation and human rights, while engaging with the helpful working methods of this Council which are productive and beneficial to our people such as the UPR.

We appreciate the many positive comments made by countries during the General Debate on Sri Lanka, acknowledging the visible progress on the ground.

In the context of protection and promotion of human rights in the Global South, Sri Lanka supports the One China principle and we take note of China’s cooperation with UN human rights mechanisms. We reiterate that interference in the internal affairs of any sovereign country cannot and should not be tolerated.

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Comments - 15

Madiba. Wednesday, 06 March 2024 09:25 AM

Global south should encourage BRICS nations to become one voice and gradually encourage BRICS to start setting up their own bodies similar to UNHCR and invite nations like SRi Lanka to join them. Then the bias, hypocracy and apathy of the current world bodies will have an alternate to challenge them.

Useless Nations Horrible Rascals Council Wednesday, 06 March 2024 09:31 AM

UNHRC has lost its credibility and purpose. If there is an exit clause, small countries that are getting bullied by this now utterly biased and therefore useless council should actually opt to exit. That will open the eyes of the Big Bullies who are controlling the council with the use of money and influence.

Bhaskaran Wednesday, 06 March 2024 09:36 AM

So you want UN to focus on Gaza but ignore the atrocities carried out in Jaffna, isn't the double standards

Mahila Wednesday, 06 March 2024 07:46 PM

NO! Not at ALL!!?? It is the UNIFIED standard of predicted Remediation of NON-CONFORMANCE of Human Rights, worldwide!!!

Nimal Wednesday, 06 March 2024 09:44 AM

To the contrary conduct a full investigation into the atrocities and human rights violations carried out the government of Sri Lanka and its police and military forces since 2008 and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Jude Wednesday, 06 March 2024 10:03 AM

In short, SL totally oppressive regime. Period. Check out the PTA, OSA and all other Draconian laws passed recently. They all in grossly violation of Human rights.

Sunil Wednesday, 06 March 2024 11:02 AM

Please defince what is excessive

Ram Wednesday, 06 March 2024 11:39 AM

No, human rights violations must be investigated and cannot be ignored. SL has no option but to comply and fulfill the obligations or face the consequences. it would be a good practice also to sign up for the international criminal court for any serious breach. The government rulers cannot behave like Putin anymore and suppress innocent people, community, minorities, religious groups, etc

johan Wednesday, 06 March 2024 12:04 PM

Sri Lankan people need UNHRC scrutiny over the nation, to tract violations of human rights committed by this unelected government or any elected govt.Once the politicians got elected by the sympathetic votes of the people they think they are lords and they can do whatever they want. This menace we have to control.We poor Sri Lankans not bothered about what is happening in Super Power countries

Sokrates Wednesday, 06 March 2024 12:52 PM

In his speech about Sri Lanka, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Austrian Volker Türk, pointed out all provable war crimes, human rights violations, disregard for Supreme Court rulings, illegal legislation, failure to investigate the Easter attacks, inadequate attempts at reconciliation and even the appointment of a criminal as the highest police officer in Sri Lanka. In this century, this can no longer be dismissed as interference in a country's internal affairs. The times of high-handed dictators are coming to an end. Human rights are valid beyond national borders and must be punished. China's crimes against its Uyghur minority are no longer an internal matter for the country. It is also not possible to set off the crimes of other countries against their own, as Sri Lanka likes to do. This time there must be harsh economic sanctions against Sri Lanka and the years of playing for time must end.

sundar Wednesday, 06 March 2024 05:23 PM

Can the international community also halt the excessive borrowing and loans taken by SL, which is only second to another failed state-Pakistan

sumo Thursday, 07 March 2024 02:18 PM

screw the international community. Who are they? There is no such community as the whole frigging world is messed up and so divided.

Bhaskaran Wednesday, 06 March 2024 05:24 PM

How can it halt when not a single person has been brought to books for the atrocities committed against the Tamils

Ratnayaka Wednesday, 06 March 2024 09:09 PM

Don’t worry about UNHRC, they conduct this annual festival to make noise and go away to sleep.

Nadi Karunaratne Thursday, 07 March 2024 04:28 PM

Let's be honest our human rights record is so appalling we don't want any scrutiny.

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Halt excessive scrutiny of nations - SL tells Human Rights Council

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