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Sri Lanka Resolution Passes UN Human Rights Council March 26th, 2012

The UN Human Rights Council voted Last Thursday (March 22nd) in favor of a resolution calling on the government of Sri Lanka to end impunity for human rights abuses. Allegations of war crimes committed in the final stages of the decades-long civil conflict have dogged the government in Colombo.

The resolution calls on Sri Lanka to “credibly investigate” alleged abuses committed toward the end of the country’s bitter civil war and asks the government to explain how it addresses alleged violations of international humanitarian law, as well as how Sri Lanka would implement the recommendations of an internal inquiry into the war. It also encourages the UN human rights office to provide Sri Lanka with advice and assistance and for the government to accept the advice.

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People’s Guide to the UN Human Right to Water and Sanitation June 21st, 2011

The Council of Canadians has released a new report titled Our Right to Water: A People’s Guide to Implementing the United Nations’ Recognition of the Right to Water and Sanitation. Chairperson Maude Barlow wrote the report, available from the Council of Canadians.

On July 28, 2010 the General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution recognizing the Human Right to Water and Sanitation. Two months later, the UN Human Rights Council recognized the human right to water and sanitation in a similar resolution, setting out exactly what this new right entails for governments. Because the Human Rights Council resolution is based on two existing treaties, it rendered binding the first right to water resolution passed by the General Assembly. In other words, as the UN acknowledges, “The right to water and sanitation is a human right, equal to all other human rights, which implies that it is justiciable and enforceable.”

“All governments are now bound by these historic UN resolutions. Whether or not they voted for the two resolutions, every member nation of the UN is now obligated to accept and recognize the human right to water and sanitation and come up with a plan of action based on the obligation to respect, the obligation to protect and the obligation to fulfil these new rights,” says Barlow.

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NGOs Oppose Sri Lanka’s Bid for UN Human Rights Council Seat May 8th, 2008

The civil was in Sri Lanka continues to deteriorate. With the abrogation of the cease-fire in January, 2008, the Sri Lankan government has declared all-out war on Sri Lanka’s Tamil rebels – the LTTE. Thousands have died and tens of thousands have been forced to leave their villages. Often, refugees are forced to move yet again to avoid further conflict. Sri Lanka has known only brief periods of peace and stability in the past two decades.

During a visit to Washington DC on May 6th 2008, Fr. Rohan Silva, OMI from Sri Lanka spoke to the Office of International Justice and Peace of the U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference on the ongoing conflict, the worsening living conditions of people as internal refugees and the need to support the resumption of a peace process. The Church in Sri Lanka is accompanying the people and working to give hope to the people.

At the request of Sri Lankan faith groups and NGOs, international groups are demanding that members of the United Nations oppose the Government of Sri Lanka’s bid for membership on the U.N. Human Rights Council on the basis of the serious and widespread human rights violations by government forces.

View NGO statement to the United Nations opposing Sri Lanka’s membership to U.N. Human Rights Council. [05/07/08]

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