SL to ratify UN convention on disappearances

Sri Lanka yesterday celebrated International Human Rights Day by becoming a signatory to International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances. 

The decision is also in line with the recommendations made by the UN Working Group that visisted Sri Lanka in November. Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera told reporters Cabinet had decided to ratify the treaty on the eve of International Human Rights Day and insisted it was simply the next step in the fresh road being carved out by the “Yahapalanaya” Government.   So far 94 states have signed the convention and 51 states have ratified the legislation around the world. 

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said the Cabinet of Ministers, in keeping with the mandate and vision of the Government to promote and protect the human rights of all citizens and ensure non-recurrence, took “an extremely important and decisive step” to sign the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

The cabinet’s decision taken last night demonstrates the seriousness of which the Government considers the human rights issue, the Minister said.

He said the Cabinet of Ministers also authorized the Legal Draftsman to undertake the drafting of necessary legislation to give effect to the provisions of the Convention. The Convention is expected to be ratified when the enabling legislation is passed by Parliament in January next year.

The Foreign Minister pointed out that enforced disappearances issue plagued and pained the nation for long years and all, irrespective of race, religion, language or geographic location, have been affected by this crime for several decades, even in situations that are unrelated to conflict or unrest.

He said the criminalization of enforced disappearance will provide protection to each and every citizen of this country and will help ensure that the “terror of the White Van culture does not reign in our society ever again.”

The Minister also dismissed the alleged opposition between security and human rights as a “false one”.

“We must also remember that the right to life, the right to live without fear, the right to seek the protection of the law are all human rights. But so is the right to freedom, the right to non-discrimination and the right of self-expressions. These rights, for the most part, complement rather than contradict each other,” Samaraweera said.

He said as the government is dedicated to strengthen the human rights of all, strengthen the rule of law and the national Human Rights Commission.

“We all know that there can be no lasting peace, no prosperity in our land unless all enjoy freedom and justice as equals. Therefore, we must, as a nation, dedicate ourselves, to not resort, as in the past, to defending the human rights ‘records’ of our Governments but to instead stand up always to defend human rights as a mature and responsible nation,” the Foreign Minister said.

The Foreign Minister said there is no need to fear having a frank and honest dialogue with human rights defenders and UN Special Procedures or Sri Lanka’s bilateral partners. “Engagement makes us stronger,” he said.

 Human rights is not a partisan issue and strengthening human rights must receive the support of all, including all in Parliament, Foreign Minister stressed.