Human rights and counter-terrorism: UN expert launches
first mission to Sri Lanka
GENEVA (6 July 2017) – The United Nations Special
Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism Ben Emmerson will undertake an
official visit to Sri Lanka from 10 to 14 July to gather first-hand information
on initiatives in the area of counter-terrorism and assess how they affect the
promotion and protection of human rights.
“I will seek to provide assistance in the discussion of
the country’s counter-terrorism policy and legal framework, as well as in the
preparation and drafting of relevant legislative acts, with a view to ensuring
that measures taken by the Government are in compliance with international
human rights law,” says Mr. Emmerson.
During his five-day mission to the country, Mr. Emmerson
is scheduled to have high-level meetings with representatives of the
Government, including the ministries responsible for foreign affairs, law and
order, Southern development, justice, defence, finance, media, prison reforms,
rehabilitation, resettlement and Hindu religious affairs.
The Special Rapporteur will also meet law enforcement
officials, members of parliament, members of specialized police departments,
the National Police Commission and the Human Rights Commission. In addition, he
will go to places of detention to interview persons suspected or convicted of
terrorist crimes.
Mr. Emmerson, who visits Sri Lanka at the invitation of
the Government, will also hold talks with representatives of the international
community, lawyers, academics, and non-governmental organizations. He will visit
Colombo and spend several days in other areas of the country, including
Anuradhapura and Vavuniya.
At the end of his visit, on Friday, 14 July 2017, at
15:00, Mr. Emmerson will share his preliminary observations with the media
during a press conference at the UN building (202 Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo
7). Copies of his end-of-mission statement and press release will be available
in English and Sinhalese. Access to the press conference is strictly limited to
journalists.
The Special Rapporteur will present a comprehensive
report with his findings and recommendations to the UN Human Rights Council in
March 2018.
ENDS
Mr. Ben Emmerson (United Kingdom) is the SpecialRapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamentalfreedoms while countering terrorism. On 1 August 2011, he took up his functions
on the mandate that was created in 2005 by the former United Nations Commission
on Human, renewed by the UN Human Rights Council for a three-year period in
December 2007, in September 2010 and again in March 2013.
The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the
Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest
body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name
of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that
address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of
the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not
UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from
any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
UN Human Rights, country page: Sri Lanka
For more information and media requests please contact:
In Colombo (during the visit): Ms. Julia Raue (+ 94 (0)11
2580691 ext. 240 / julia.raue@one.un.org)
In Geneva (before and after the visit): Mr. Sharof Azizov
(+41 22 917 9748 / sazizov@ohchr.org) or
write to srct@ohchr.org
For media inquiries related to other UN independent
experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917
9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)
You can access this media advisory online
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