The European Union today called on the Sri Lankan government to extend further invitations to facilitate outstanding visit requests by UN special mandate holders, including the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.
“We welcome the visits by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Special Envoy on Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons and encourage the Sri Lankan government to extend further invitations to facilitate outstanding visit requests by other UN special mandate holders, including the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances,” the EU Heads of Mission in Sri Lanka said in a statement in view of the World Human Rights Day (December10).
The statement also said that, “in Sri Lanka, there have been significant improvements since the end of the conflict, particularly on resettlement and physical reconstruction. Funding from EU and its Member States has supported progress on de-mining and the construction of new houses, helping the displaced to return to their homes. We welcome the Northern Provincial Council elections and encourage the Government to take further action to implement the recommendations in the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission Report in order to ensure justice and meaningful reconciliation. Further challenges also remain in upholding the independence and effectiveness of the judiciary and the rule of law, strengthening freedom of expression, taking effective action to end religious intolerance and preventing sexual abuse of women and children.”
The Delegation also takes this opportunity to encourage Sri Lankan authorities to engage in dialogue with, and draw on the support of, international partners who may be able to assist in the remaining challenging tasks. The EU continues to stand ready to offer assistance to the Sri Lankan government to help it address and overcome these challenges in order to help build a better and brighter future for all Sri Lankans, the statement added.
Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)
