At UN Human Rights Council 20th session:

Lanka focuses on international terrorism

Sri Lanka has cautioned on the many faceted dangers of international terrorist networks operating in foreign jurisdictions indulging in the form of front organisations while continuing to receive overt and tacit support from host societies.

Sri Lanka was participating in the 20th Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The Lankan delegation noted that tolerance and accommodation of these international networks could lead to the resurfacing and rejuvenation pf terrorism in countries which have suffered from it and been effectively suppressesd.

These observations were made by the Lankan delegation in the International Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter Terrorism.

According to a press release from the External Affairs Ministry:

"Sri Lanka observed that support from overseas, whether it be by fund-raising or via other logistical support, or even via civic or political manifestations that espouse terrorist causes in victim countries, must be stringently guarded against. Sri Lanka upheld that all countries have a responsibility to ensure that terrorism does not jeopardize the rights of its citizens on their own soil, and equally have a duty to ensure that activities in its jurisdiction do not pose a threat to present and potential victims of terrorism in other nations.

In the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty, the Sri Lanka delegation observed that under the Government's Livelihood Development Programme 'Divi Neguma', in accordance with the Mahinda Chintana development policy framework, steps have been taken to strengthen household economic units and informed that 2.5 million households which account for 50 percent of the total household population, were provided with seeds, plants, livestock, fisheries and input for small scale industries.

Also, Sri Lanka welcomed the Report of the Working Group on Discrimination against Women in Law and Practice, and observed that there has been a significant improvement in the status of women in Sri Lanka over the years as demonstrated by high levels of attainment in education, health and economic empowerment.

The delegation noted that this has been possible due to increased sensitivity to women's issues and a firm government policy that has sought to empower women and address their specific grievances. Detailing the concrete steps taken to address the issue of violence against women, the delegation indicated that the Government has enacted the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act and taken measures to improve its implementation. As a country coming out of a 3-decade long terrorist conflict, the delegation pointed out that measures have been taken to enhance law enforcement in former conflict-affected areas through the establishment of additional Women and Children's desks at police stations.

It indicated that the issue of female-headed households has emerged as a new priority concern that needs to be addressed in the post-conflict period. The delegation also emphasized that Sri Lanka, as a State Party to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) presented its latest Periodic Report under Article 18 of the Convention which was reviewed in 2011.

In the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Migrants, Sri Lanka welcomed the Report, which calls for a rights based approach to migration, entailing the use of human rights mechanisms to protect migrants at all stages of the migration process."

The delegation of the Government of Sri Lanka to the 20th session of the Human Rights Council comprises Charge d'Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva Ms Manisha Gunasekera, Deputy Solicitor General Shavindra Fernando, Ms Sashikala Premawardane, Director/UN of the Ministry of External Affairs and Nishan Muthukrishna, Human Rights Coordinator of the Ministry of Plantation Industries. The 20th session of the Council will continue until July 6, 2012.