Lanka looks forward to fruitful cooperation with new UN HC for Human
Rights
Secretary-General of the Peace Secretariat, Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha,
welcoming the new High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillai,
said Sri Lanka was pleased to welcome the new High Commissioner for
Human Rights, and to wish her well for her work, and her thoughtful and
productive programme laid out in her presentation.
"We look forward to fruitful cooperation with her, in particular on
the follow up to the Durban Conference," he said.
Prof. Wijesinha said Racism continues a corrosive influence on people
in many of our societies, and we hope that under your (Pillai's)
guidance and with the sympathetic experience and determination the High
Commissioner brings to her tasks, the Council and the Office of the High
Commissioner will be able to alleviate at least some of the suffering.
"Sri Lanka will support your efforts as best possible, at home and
also through the indefatigable efforts of our Permanent Representative
in Geneva," he said.
Prof. Wijesinha added: "At the same time Sri Lanka has recognised the
need for improvement in our own Human Rights situation at home and looks
forward to assistance from the High Commissioner to take positive
action. It has been difficult in the context of the struggle against
terrorism, as so many countries have realised, to maintain the high
standards all of us here would like to set ourselves.
But, while we have a much better record than most about caring for
civilians during operations, as importantly we have managed to continue
with social support systems even to our citizens who were under the
temporary domination of terrorist forces.
I believe nowhere else in the world are free health and educational
services provided in such situations, so it was particularly heartening
that, when there is much concentration on other aspects, the High
Commissioner made specific mention of the 'benefits of housing,
healthcare, education and opportunity', benefits that we have striven to
extend to all our citizens. But as we have discussed, when the High
Commissioner met our Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights
last week, there have been flaws arising from serious security concerns,
and we realise that these must be eliminated so that all our people can
move forward together.
We were pleased that she was positive about the assistance we have
long requested. We look forward to follow up on recent visits of Special
Representatives who have provided invaluable advice, and we trust that
under your aegis, we will receive practical assistance that will make
such special procedures helpful to our people." |