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2009 State Department Human Rights Country Report on Sri Lanka Now Available March 12th, 2010
The 2009 US State Department Country Reports on Human Rights Practices were released on March 11, 2010.
For the report on Sri Lanka, please go to:
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/sca/136093.htm
The Annual Human Rights reports are put out by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor of the US Department of State.
Sri Lanka cited in Address of UN Human Rights High Commissioner March 5th, 2010
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay highlighted on-going human rights problems in Sri Lanka in a recent address to the UN Himan Rights Council as she presented the UNHCHR 2009 Annual Report.
“In Sri Lanka, I welcome the progress made in returning displaced persons, and hope the review and release of security detainees can similarly be expedited. But the opportunity for peace and reconciliation continues to be marred by the treatment of journalists, human rights defenders and other critics of the Government. I am convinced that Sri Lanka should undertake a full reckoning of the grave violations committed by all sides during the war, and that the international community can be helpful in this regard,” Commissioner Pillay said in her Address to the Human Rights Council.
Commissioner Pillay’s Address to the UN HR Council (Download PDF)
January Proclaimed Human Trafficking Month January 12th, 2010
President Obama has proclaimed January 2010 as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, culminating in the annual celebration of National Freedom Day on February 1.
The US State Department estimates that 14,500-17,500 people are trafficked into the United States each year in a modern-day version of slavery. These numbers do not show the estimated 100,000 minors that are trafficked within U.S. borders into prostitution, nor do they show the individuals that never receive services or law enforcement intervention.
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Sean McDonagh, SSC Laments Lost Opportunity at Copenhagen January 8th, 2010
Sean McDonagh, SSC, a respected author and speaker on environmental issues and one of the most articulate advocates for action on climate change within the Catholic Church, offers a close up view and analysis of the failed climate conference in Copenhagen.
He wrote a number of excellent brief articles from Copenhagen that give a vivid sense of the conference, as well as valuable information on the climate change debate.
Read his articles here:
- COP-01- Setting the Stage for COP 15 in Copenhagen (December 8, 2009)
- COP-02-How Robust is the Science of Climate Change (December 9 2009)
- COP-03-There is a need for urgent action on Adaptation (December 10 2009)
- COP-04-Politics and the UN Framework Convention Climate Change Conference (December 11 2009)
- COP-05-Tuvalus intervention on December 9th 2009 (December 14, 2009)
- COP-06-Q&A on Copenhagen and Reflections on the Church (Dec. 14 2009)
- COP-07-Tight Restrictions at COP15 (Dec 15 2009)
- COP-08-Politican Leaders Converging on Copenhagen (Dec. 16 2009)
Expert Witnesses Detail IDP Situation in Sri Lanka December 17th, 2009
Three panels of expert witnesses testified on December 10, Humam Rights Day, about current realities facing internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in northern and Eastern Sri Lanka. The government’s recent decision finally to allow the resettlement of displaced Tamil civilians who had been held in internment camps since the end of a brutal war in May was commended. At the same time, concern was expressed about inconsistencies in policies governing the recent releases, continued lack of access by humanitarian organizations (including the UN) to IDPs in resettlement areas and former LTTE cadres in detention centers, the safety of released IDPs and the need for further de-mining of formerly populated areas.
The following Issue experts testified:
- Eric Schwartz, Assistant Secretary for Population, Migration and Refugees, U.S. Department of State (Download PDF of testimony)
- Michel Gabaudan, regional representative for the United States of America and the Caribbean, UNHCR (Download PDF of testimony)
- Miriam Young, US Counsel on Sri Lanka
- Christoph Koettl, Amnesty International (Download PDF of testimony)
- Robert Oberst, Nebraska Wesleyan University
- Jennifer Leonard, International Crisis Group
