PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Sri Lanka: Human Rights (1 March 2017)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of Sri Lanka's progress in implementing UN Human Rights Council Resolution 30/1; and if he will make a statement.

Asked by:
Wes Streeting (Labour)

Sri Lanka's co-sponsorship of United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution 30/01 in October 2015 was a landmark moment. The High Commissioner for Human Rights presented his final progress report at the UNHRC's 34^th session on 3 March. The report acknowledged the positive engagement of the Government of Sri Lanka and noted some progress in the human rights situation in Sri Lanka since 2015. However, it also highlighted the slow fulfilment of transitional justice commitments.

In my meeting with Foreign Minister Samaraweera on 28 February, I welcomed Sri Lanka's engagement with the UN and international community and their progress to date in implementing Human Rights Council Resolution 30/01. I raised the importance of further land releases, constitutional reform, the development of new counter-terrorism legislation in line with international human rights standards, and the establishment of credible transitional justice mechanisms – starting with making the Office of Missing Persons operational.

Answered by:
Lord Sharma (Conservative)
6 March 2017