UN committee on torture prevention holds meeting with HRCSL

A UN committee on torture prevention has met with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka said today.

The?delegation of the UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT), currently in Sri Lanka, visited the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.

The delegation comprised of Victor Zaharia, (Head of Delegation), Staybhooshun Gupt Domah, Petros Michaelides, and Ms. June Lopez.

The SPT Delegation met with Dr. Deepika Udagama, Chairperson of the Commission and Commissioners Ms. Ramani Muttetuwegama and Ms. Ambika Satkunanathan and discussed issues of mutual concern and interest.

The United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture is on its first visit to Sri Lanka to examine the treatment of people deprived of their liberty and the safeguards in place for their protection against torture and ill-treatment.

Their talks in Colombo will focus on advising and assisting the Sri Lankan authorities regarding the measures they must take to be in compliance with the obligations contained in the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture.

The Subcommittee will be visiting places of deprivation of liberty and will hold discussions on Sri Lanka establishing an independent National Preventive Mechanism.

The Optional Protocol, which Sri Lanka ratified in 2017, requires such a mechanism to be established with the authority and capacity to undertake preventive visits to any place where persons may be deprived of their liberty.

?During our visit we will be exploring the steps Sri Lanka needs to take to effectively prevent torture and ill-treatment of people deprived of their liberty,? said Victor Zaharia. ?We will also advise the authorities on the full implementation of their treaty obligations, including how they can best establish a national independent body to visit places of detention.?

The delegation includes Victor Zaharia, Head of Delegation (Republic of Moldova), Satyabhooshun Gupt Domah (Mauritius), Petros Michaelides (Cyprus), and June Lopez (Philippines). (Colombo Gazette)