The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCLS) has announced plans to release a set of guidelines and recommendations on the protection of human rights defenders in Sri Lanka.
Issuing a statement, the HRCSL said that it would also engage in a consultative process to finalize these guidelines and recommendations.
The announcement was made during a discussion held last week between the HRCLS members and representatives of civil society organisations in Sri Lanka to discuss the Commission’s current programme and future plans.
The HRCSL said the meeting also provided an opportunity for civil society representatives to share their experiences, concerns, and recommendations with the Commission.
The meeting was chaired by the Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, Justice L.T.B. Dehideniya, and attended by commissioners Prof. Thaiyamuthu Thanaraj, Prof. Farzana Haniffa, Mr. Nimal Punchchihewa, and Dr. Gehan Gunatilleke, and the directors and senior staff of the Commission.
Civil society representatives shared their experiences and concerns at the meeting, including threats to democratic and civic space in Sri Lanka, the harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders in the course of their work, the importance of protecting, promoting and fulfilling economic, social and cultural rights, and challenges faced by persons with disabilities, particularly in the transport sector.
Civil society representatives also expressed their interest in working closely with the Commission through its thematic subcommittees.
They further emphasized the need for the proactive disclosure of information including past inquiry reports and the need for strengthening the Commission’s complaints mechanisms including its hotline.
The HRCSL also assured civil society representatives that the thematic sub-committee system would be re-established along with the participation of civil society experts and a process for constituting these sub-committees would be launched shortly.
The Commission has invited civil society representatives to continue to engage and work closely with the Commission in strengthening the protection, promotion and fulfilment of human rights in Sri Lanka. (NewsWire)