US recalls the role it played on Sri Lanka’s human rights issue

The United States has noted the role it played at the UN Human Rights Council?on Sri Lanka’s human rights issue.

The United States recalled the role it played on Sri Lanka in a pledge it has issued as it seeks election to the UN Human Rights Council in November 2016.

On Sri Lanka, the pledge notes that the US sponsored four resolutions at the UN Human Rights Council on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka.

“The United States commits to continue working with determination for a balanced, credible, and effective UN Human Rights Council to advance the purpose and principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. To that same end, in partnership with the international community, we will continue to promote universality, transparency, and objectivity in all of the Council?s endeavors. The United States is proud of the work we have done building partnerships with numerous countries from every region to increase the Council?s credibility, strengthen the Council as an institution, and create mechanisms to promote and protect human rights. During our first two terms on the Council, we were pleased to see broad support for such important cross-regional initiatives as the creation of two Special Rapporteurs, one on Freedom of Association and Assembly and another on the human rights situation in Iran, a resolution on women?s right to a nationality, four resolutions on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, the creation of a Working Group on Discrimination against Women in Law and Practice, as well as resolutions focusing on important issues such as early and forced marriage, and female genital mutilation. Similarly, we were pleased the Council took urgent action to address crisis situations in countries including Syria, Burundi, Libya, and the Central African Republic,” the pledge notes.

The United States says it is committed to continuing its support for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and remains one of the OHCHR?s largest donors.

In 2015, the United States provided $5.5 million to the OHCHR and its efforts to address violations of human rights worldwide, as well as almost $1.25 million to the UN Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights, and $6.5 million to the Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture. The US?anticipates making contributions to the UN?s human rights activities in 2016 as well. (Colombo Gazette)