UK on Sri Lanka at Human Rights Council 37

This UK Statement was delivered at the 37th Session of the Human Rights Council during the Universal Periodic Review adoption for Sri Lanka, held 19 March 2018.

( March 20, 2018, Geneva, Sri Lanka Guardian) The UK welcomes Sri Lanka’s continued engagement in the UPR process.

We also welcome Sri Lanka’s acceptance of a number of our recommendations. This includes its accession to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, following the voluntary commitment it made at the Universal Periodic Review in November 2017.

We welcome Sri Lanka’s commitment to design and implement strategies to tackle sexual and gender-based violence, including addressing related stigma towards victims and survivors, as per the National Human Rights Action Plan, the National Plan of Action to address Sexual and Gender Based Violence and the Declaration on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict.

We call upon Sri Lanka to introduce legislation requiring businesses to report publicly on efforts to ensure transparency in supply chains, as part of Sri Lanka’s national action plan to combat human trafficking.

We continue to urge Sri Lanka to fully implement the commitments made in resolutions 30/1 and 34/1, as the best way to ensure human rights and reconciliation and the long term peace and prosperity that is in the interests of all Sri Lankans.