UN’s Pillay warns Lanka for reprisals against rights defenders
11 Sept 2013 5:29 AM IST
Days after her visit to Sri Lanka, the UN human rights chief Navi Pillay on Monday put the country on notice against reprisals targeting human rights defenders, journalists and communities whom she had met.
Pillay’s statement is her first official statement to the United Nations since her visit to Sri Lanka last month and refers to human rights status in some 20 countries, including Lanka. The High Commissioner for Human Rights was addressing the 24th session of the UNHRC in Geneva which got underway on Monday.
Pillay said that the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s report on cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights is before the Council at the current session.
It refers to cases of alleged reprisals, or intimidation, against persons as a result of such cooperation, from 16 June, 2012 to 15 June, 2013. ‘I will be reporting on my observations later in the session, but wish to stress my immediate concern for the protection of human rights defenders, journalists and communities I met during my visit from any reprisal, intimidation or attack,’ she said.
Pillay told the council on Monday that that she was grateful to the government of Sri Lanka for facilitating her recent comprehensive visit, which allowed her to assess the progress being made towards reconstruction, reconciliation and accountability in the aftermath of the war, as well as the broader human rights situation, including religious intolerance, governance.
Pillay’s statement is her first official statement to the United Nations since her visit to Sri Lanka last month and refers to human rights status in some 20 countries, including Lanka. The High Commissioner for Human Rights was addressing the 24th session of the UNHRC in Geneva which got underway on Monday.
Pillay said that the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s report on cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights is before the Council at the current session.
It refers to cases of alleged reprisals, or intimidation, against persons as a result of such cooperation, from 16 June, 2012 to 15 June, 2013. ‘I will be reporting on my observations later in the session, but wish to stress my immediate concern for the protection of human rights defenders, journalists and communities I met during my visit from any reprisal, intimidation or attack,’ she said.
Pillay told the council on Monday that that she was grateful to the government of Sri Lanka for facilitating her recent comprehensive visit, which allowed her to assess the progress being made towards reconstruction, reconciliation and accountability in the aftermath of the war, as well as the broader human rights situation, including religious intolerance, governance.
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