UN Rights Chief wants SL to place local mechanism ahead UN report

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein urged the Srilankan government to consult broadly with all political parties, civil society, and above all victims and their families, to ensure full national support and ownership when it formulates a domestic mechanism to investigate alleged war crimes and human rights violations against humanity. He made these remarks in his Opening Statement to the 29th Session of the Human Rights Council today. ''The new Government in Sri Lanka has passed a constitutional amendment which, if implemented appropriately, brings renewed hope for democracy and the rule of law. '' ''OHCHR will remain very engaged in discussions with the Sri Lankan authorities on the need for transparent and inclusive processes to develop credible mechanisms for accountability and reconciliation, ahead of my report to the September session. I encourage the Government to consult broadly with all political parties, civil society, and above all victims and their families, to ensure full national support and ownership of these processes. '' he said.