ICC Note:
In his opening statement to the 27th session of the UN Human Rights Council, new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid Al-Hussein said that he deplored the violence unleashed upon Christians and Muslims in Sri Lanka and that he attaches great importance into the investigation of human rights abuses in the island nation. Over the past two years, Christians an other religious minorities in Sri Lanka have found themselves under increasing attack at the hands of radical Buddhist nationalists. Will the UN investigation help end the attacks on Christians in Sri Lanka?
9/9/2014 Sri Lanka (Newsfirst) – The new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid Al-Hussein, says he attaches great importance to the investigation on Sri Lanka. He expressed these views in his opening statement to the 27th session of the UN Human Rights Council, in Geneva.
The 27th session of the UN Human Rights Council, commenced in Geneva on Monday.
This was Prince Zeid Al-Hussein’s first address to the council, following his appointment as the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Speaking at the council, he expressed following views:
“Moreover I attach great importance to the investigation on Sri Lanka, mandated by this council on which OHCR will report later, on in the session. I encourage the Sri Lankan authorities to co-operate with this process in the interest of justice and reconciliation. I am alarmed at threats currently being levelled against the Human rights community of Sri Lanka, as well as respective victims and witnesses, I also deplore recent incitements in violence against the country’s Muslim and Christian minorities.”
Representatives on the council, expressed their views on the OHCHR investigation into Sri Lanka, following the High Commissioner’s statement.
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