News
UNHRC resolutions against Sri Lanka likely to be ‘rolled over’
View(s):By our Diplomatic Editor
The resolutions against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) are likely to be ‘rolled over’ by another year, the Sunday Times learns.
The resolution, the latest being No. 56/1 of 2022, lapsed this month, and the Core Group, spearheaded by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, while calling for an extension of the resolutions, is expected to propose a further one-year ‘roll over’ for Sri Lanka to address the situation on the ground, according to a draft circulated among member-states on Friday evening. It also gives time for Sri Lanka to implement the domestic mechanisms for reconciliation.
Friday’s draft now in circulation is short and technical, in sharp contrast to the pages of previous resolutions referring to adverse descriptions of accountability and disappearances.
This draft, however, supports the report on Sri Lanka by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. It has been rejected by Sri Lanka and several friendly countries. The report made some stinging comments on Sri Lanka’s human rights record, including prevailing socio-economic issues referred to as being ‘out of mandate’ by Sri Lanka, which also rejects the main resolutions before the Council.
A large number of countries taking the floor this week during the UNHRC sessions supported Sri Lanka’s efforts at economic stabilisation and progress and opposed international accountability mechanisms. Many countries supportive of Sri Lanka raised issues asking why the UNHRC was being ‘selective’ in criticising Sri Lanka’s record, and for wasting UN funds, while some raised the double standards of the Western powers and the Council for ignoring the genocide taking place in Occupied Palestine.
If the new draft is adopted, it would mean that Resolution 51/1, which Sri Lanka opposed, will remain in force for another year on the Council’s agenda.
Sri Lanka remains opposed to international evidence-gathering mechanisms. The ‘roll over’, however, will give the post-September 21 government a year’s grace period to address the resolutions in Geneva.
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!