Commonwealth and Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission explore national inquiries
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- Created On Friday, 05 July 2013 10:04
- Category: General
Over 50 staff members from the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) completed a Commonwealth workshop on conducting national inquiries in compliance with international standards on 4 June.
John Walters, Ombudsman of Namibia - an ‘A’ accredited national human rights institution - led the three-day workshop in Colombo.
Chairperson of the HRCSL Justice Priyantha Perera said: “The workshop has been very beneficial for us, as many of the staff and officers have little awareness of national inquiries. The facilitation has been very comprehensive in building our knowledge, and we are pleased that so many HRCSL staff members have been able to participate.
“I personally have benefitted by broadening my understanding of national inquiries and how they can be used as an effective tool.”
HRCSL Commissioner Jezima Ismail added that Mr Walters’ presentation will be useful in guiding the Commission in developing a model for application.
While making a presentation at the workshop on the HRCSL’s enabling legislation and its mandate in conducting investigations and inquiries, Javid Yusuf, Attorney-at-Law and former Commissioner of the HRCSL, highlighted greater media engagement and public awareness raising as two central strategies in raising the public profile, confidence and authority of the Commission.
The Commonwealth Secretariat's Head of Human Rights, Karen McKenzie, said: “We have had positive and constructive engagement by all participants. They have demonstrated a keen commitment to strengthening their capacity and taking a stronger leadership role on human rights protection, promotion and advocacy both nationally and internationally.
“The Commonwealth Secretariat will continue to provide technical, financial, monitoring and oversight support.’’
T Kanagaraj, an HRCSL Regional Coordinator for Jaffna, noted: “The workshop has been beneficial in enhancing team work between the HRCSL staff members, and I appreciate the opportunity to spend time with the Regional Coordinators so that we can share our experiences between the regions.”
The workshop is taking place in parallel to a visit by Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba, to review arrangements for the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo in November. Mrs Masire-Mwamba will meet with the Sri Lankan Minister of External Affairs, Professor G L Peiris, Judge Priyantha Perera and members of the CHOGM 2013 Task Force.
In his last two official visits to Sri Lanka in September 2012 and February this year in preparation for CHOGM, Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma committed to providing technical assistance to the HRCSL. This, he said, would strengthen the Commission’s capacity to investigate human rights abuses, which would contribute to further enhancing the independence, authority and effectiveness of the Commission in compliance with international standards.
Courtesy - http://reliefweb.int/
