UNHRC resolution against SL passed

India, Japan, Nepal, UAE, Qatar, Libya and Indonesia abstain

The resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) titled ‘Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka’ (A/HR/51/5/L1/Rev1) was adopted yesterday.

The resolution was proposed by a group of states comprising Canada, Germany, Malawi, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the United States and the United Kingdom.20 UNHRC member states including the United Kingdom, United States, France, Finland, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland and the Republic of Korea voted for the resolution.

Seven members, China, Bolivia, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Cuba and Eritrea, voted against the resolution.Meanwhile, India, Japan, Nepal, UAE, Qatar, Libya and Indonesia abstained from voting.UK’s Ambassador Simon Manley introduced the resolution on Sri Lanka.

“The text is largely based on last year’s resolution but has been updated to reflect some of the key developments over the last 18 months in what has been a rather dramatic time for Sri Lanka – an economic crisis, mass protests, and a change in government, all of which have had a significant bearing on the human rights situation in the country,” he said.

He adDed that the draft both recognises the challenges which Sri Lanka had faced during this period and acknowledges progress where thAT has occurred.

“It reflects some of the more recent concerns outlined in the High Commissioner’s report, especially the human rights impact of the economic crisis. And it also addresses several longstanding issues which still need to be addressed.  These include the lack of accountability for past violations, the many unresolved cases of enforced disappearances, the need for Sri Lanka to meet its own commitments on the devolution of political authority, as well as the need to uphold the rights of all people in Sri Lanka including Tamils and Muslims,” he said.

Earlier, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said that the resolution had been presented without the country’s consent or consultation. He said this draft resolution is not helpful to Sri Lanka.The resolution urges the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to enhance its monitoring and reporting on the situation of human rights in Sri Lanka, including on progress in reconciliation and accountability and on the human rights impact of the economic crisis and corruption.