UNHRC to take up SL report on 22 March

The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) will take up for consideration the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka on 22 March.

It will  be the first comprehensive report evaluating the progress the country has made in improving its human rights record after the visit to the country in February last year by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein.

This, along with the reports of two UN Special Rapporteurs who visited Sri Lanka last year, will be taken up for consideration at the 34th session of the UNHRC which will be held at its headquarters in Geneva from 27 February to 24 March 2017.

The HRC will consider the report of the Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer on Sri Lanka on 2 March. The Council will also consider the annual report of Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues Rita Izsák Ndiaye based on her mission to Sri Lanka as well as two other countries on 15 March.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera is scheduled to address the Council on 28 February.