Sri Lanka has expresses its strong reservations on the misplaced reference in the Annual Report to the Secretary General’s Internal Review Panel (IRP) report on Sri Lanka including provision of link to the report in a footnote, in the context of prevention. We note however that the report relevant to the subject at hand is ‘the Rights Up Front’ plan of action, to which report, surprisingly, no such link is provided. The ‘Rights Up Front’ plan of action is not meant to be retroactive but forward looking. Regrettably, the misplaced attention paid to the IRP report, which is neither endorsed by the intergovernmental process nor based on credible sources and information, can only be construed as yet another attempt to politicise the situation of Sri Lanka in the Council.

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25th Session of the Human Rights Council High Commissioner’s Annual Report – Agenda Item 2
Statement by Sri Lanka

Mr. President,

Sri Lanka notes the High Commissioner’s Annual Report of the work undertaken in the past year by the OHCHR.

With regard to the High Commissioner’s six thematic priorities, we highlight the need for greater engagement with states, and believe that economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, should get equal and legitimate attention in these priorities. We welcome the OHCHR’s acknowledgement of the need to redress this imbalance.

While the High Commissioner’s report acknowledges the strong pressures brought upon the OHCHR’s resources by the increase in new mandated activities, we reiterate our call for greater transparency and greater allocation of funds from the regular budget. There is in this regard also a need to address the proliferation and duplication of mandates, and the need to appoint special procedures mandate holders in accordance with criteria established by the Council.

Mr. President,

Sri Lanka expresses its strong reservations on the misplaced reference in the Annual Report to the Secretary General’s Internal Review Panel (IRP) report on Sri Lanka including provision of link to the report in a footnote, in the context of prevention. We note however that the report relevant to the subject at hand is ‘the Rights Up Front’ plan of action, to which report, surprisingly, no such link is provided. The ‘Rights Up Front’ plan of action is not meant to be retroactive but forward looking. Regrettably, the misplaced attention paid to the IRP report, which is neither endorsed by the intergovernmental process nor based on credible sources and information, can only be construed as yet another attempt to politicise the situation of Sri Lanka in the Council.

Mr. President,

We welcome the OHCHR’s support to the work of the Durban follow up mechanisms, a global agenda on migration and human rights, protection of human rights in the context of counter-terrorism, protection of the rights of minorities, empowerment of women and action against gender based violence, rights of persons with disabilities, discrimination on the basis of age, right to adequate housing and land-related rights.

In conclusion, Mr. President,

We pledge the High Commissioner our continued support in the discharge of her mandate as contained in GA resolution 48/141.

Thank You.

Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Geneva

07.03.2014