Written statement to Parliament- Parliament-Written statement to the UN Human Rights Council resolution Statement On On Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Statement On the UN Human Rights Council resolution On

The Foreign Secretary updated Parliament on the UK's support for a strong resolution of the UN Human Rights Council on Sri Lanka.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said:

During the Commonwealth Heads of  Government Meeting held in Last year Sri Lanka, the Prime Minister Called On to the Sri Lankan Government to ensure a credible domestic process LAUNCH alleged violations and abuses of Accountability for Human rights and International humanitarian Law On both sides during the conflict . The Prime Minister said that if the Sri Lankan Government did not take this step Step Step, We would seek to use the UN Human Rights Council an Internal Investigation On our Position. In the intervening months, the Sri Lankan Government to set up a We pressed Accountability have to investigate these allegations and ensure domestic process. However, no credible domestic processes have been set up to Date Accountability in Sri Lanka. As a result, the Time has Come On Now the Human rights Situation in Sri Lanka for International action. The Therefore UK working in support of a strong resolution which is an International Calls for Investigation, which will be voted by the UN Human Rights Council On at the end of this month. A draft resolution was tabled at the UN HRC jointly by the UK, U.S. , Mauritius, Macedonia and Montenegro, On Monday 3 March. Calls The draft resolution for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to the Office of the International Investigation LEAD, and to report back by March 2015. Further discussions will take the text this Place On month. The adoption of the resolution is not a foregone conclusion. Ahead of the Vote, the Prime Minister and I, and OTHER Foreign & Commonwealth Office Ministers, have been in Contact with a Wide Range of member States to encourage them to support a Calls for an International Investigation strong resolution that UN HRC. In doing so, We have the UN High Commissioner for MsUpload Assessment of Attention to the Human Rights who points to the need for this Investigation, Accountability Progress On As has been in Sri Lanka, in her words, "limited and piecemeal". OTHER On The Commissioner has also highlighted concerns Human rights issues, including the Undermining of the independent judiciary in Sri Lanka Institutions As such, a "significant" On religious Minorities surge in attacks and impunity for those committing Serious Human rights abuses. In the remaining days before the UN HRC will Continue to Vote We urge Members to support this action, and maintain our Close Contact with NGOs and Civil society.

We welcome the offer of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to assist in an international investigation, which would be a significant step forward in ensuring that the Sri Lankan people will know the truth behind events during the conflict. We are confident that the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, together with Special Procedures, can provide a full and comprehensive investigation.

It is important to recognise that, as a country and a people, Sri Lanka has enormous potential, with the opportunity to become a strong and prosperous nation, if the Sri Lankan government addresses these vital issues. The UK has previously welcomed progress in Sri Lanka in areas including demining (on which the Prime Minister last year announced a further £ 2.1 million of UK funding), reconstruction of former conflict affected areas and the reintegration of child soldiers. Such progress should not be overlooked. But it is also important that this progress is matched by substantive progress on reconciliation, human rights and accountability. It is clear that Sri Lanka still has a long way to go in this respect, in order to achieve lasting peace and reconciliation. Accountability plays an important part in the reconciliation process, and must not be ignored. This is intended to be a resolution which will help to address the legitimate concerns of all communities.