Emphasize the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights for the Rural Development and Policy Making:

District conference in Batticaloa

THE Education and Special Programmes Division of Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka organized the Conference on Emphasize the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights for the Rural Development and Policy Making on August 9 at Municipal Council Auditorium, Batticaloa. In this programme Assistant Commissioner of Local Government, members of Local Government and Secretaries of Local Government participated.

Main objective of this programme was emphasize the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights issues and find out the proper solution to the community through the appropriate rural development policies.

Local Government politicians and secretaries are playing major role for the rural development so they should have better understanding about Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

K. K. Villavaraja, Education Officer, Education and Special Programmes Division, HRCSL and Ms. V. Mangayakkarasi, Investigating Officer, Investigations and Inquiries Division, Manoharan, Regional Coordinator, Regional Centre, Batticaloa and A.C.A. Azeez, Investigating Officer, Regional Centre, Batticaloa and Ms. T. Sathiyananthy, Asst. Commissioner, Local Government delivered lectures.

In this conference environmental pollution due to heavy population, garbage problem, health problem and contradiction between Pradeshiya Saba activities and Samurdhi activities were discussed.

Workshop on human rights for officers of mediation board

THE Human Rights Commission regional office Anuradhapura has organised a human rights training programme for the officers of mediation boards in Polonnaruwa district.

This programme has been held from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on 24th of August at Dhavala Mandiraya, Polonnaruwa.

One hundred and nineteen officers of mediation boards and 19 Police officers of Polonnaruwa district participated in this programme.

Participants were welcomed by Ms. H. K. Vithana, Regional Coordinator of HRC regional centre, Anuradhapura. Objectives of the programme were explained by Wijaya Nanda, Investigation officer attached to regional office, Anuradhapura.

Objectives

* Provide knowledge on human rights

* Provide assistance to public for their human rights violations forwarded to the officers of mediation boards.

* Change the attitudes (positive) to provide a better service for the public who come before mediation boards.

* Enhance the coordination among the State institutions and mediation boards.

* Make the participants aware of the practical problems in dealing with human rights.

* To stand at and act as a strong advocate for public.

* To strengthen the mediation boards to provide instructions on human rights violations of public.

The Chief guest of this programme was Justice D. Jayawickrama retired Judge of Court of Appeal, Commissioner, Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka and the Chairman of Mediation Board.

Mrs. K. Sivapathasundaram, Magistrate and Additional District Judge of Polonnaruwa, Mr. Jayantha Wickramarathne, SSP - Polonnaruwa and Mr. Panditharatne, Divisional Secretary, Thamankaduwa have participated for the inauguration of this programme.

Justice D. Jayawickrama, Commissioner, Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka and the Chairman of Mediation Board stated that the mediators are also carrying out a task of human rights protection.

He further pointed out that 91,906 complaints have been settled by the mediation boards in 2005 and 2006.

This is a considerable number and it reduces the workload of courts.

First lecture was delivered by Mr. Nimal Punchiheva, Attorney-at-Law, Additional Secretary of the Human Rights Commission. He explained the followings:

* Advantages of mediation

* Comparison of human rights and mediation

* History and development of human rights

* Description of fundamental rights chapter of the constitution

* Limitations to fundamental rights

* Illegal arrest, detention

* Torture

* Rights to equality under fundamental rights

Second lecture was delivered by Ms. Thilani Rajapakse, Attorney-at-Law, Director (Monitoring and Review) of the Human Rights Commission and consisted of following facts:

* Introduction on international bindings on human rights

* Development of national law under international bindings

* Description on the new institutions created under treaty body bindings

* Description on new posts and procedures as a result of international agreements.

* Procedure on sending country reports to various committees under treaty bodies

* Description on providing instructions to public on human rights violations

* How to eradicate/minimize human rights violations in our society?

Third lecture was conducted by Mr. J. M. Foumi, a senior Investigation officer, of the HRC. He explained the powers and functions of the HRC and how to make use of the HRC for human rights violations.

There was a session for questions and answers. Participants were raised questions on filing fundamental rights violation cases, problems in relations to and cases, non granting leave for mediation board sittings and problems on child abuse, labour, etc.

Mediation Board officers requested to hold these type of programmes to other officers too.

They further stated that this will be useful them to instruct public who come to them for advise as they are respected persons in the villages.

Most of them are retired Principals, Government Servants, Religious Leaders in the Villages.

Justice Jayawickrema educates police officers

Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka Commissioner (HRCSL) Justice D. Jayawickrema during the last week attended several seminars in the Central Province in order to educate police officers in the area on human rights violations, fundamental violation and torture.

Central Province DIG Kingsley Ekanayake and HRCSL Additional Secretary (Legal) Nimal Punchihewa also participated in these seminars. Justice Jayawickrema also participated in several seminars conducted in the Dalugama District Secretariat in order to educate the Gramaseva Niladharies in the area.