Let none presume to wear an undeserved dignity,
Of that estates, degrees and offices were not derived corruptly
And that clear honour were purchased by the merit of the wearer
William Shakespeare –The Merchant of Venice disservice
The recent defeat of Sri Lanka at the vote taken to pass the US sponsored resolution on the protection of human rights […]

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) strongly deplores the alarming escalation in hostile rhetoric and the barely concealed threats of reprisals that have been made against some of the country’s leading
journalists and human rights defenders by representatives of the Sri Lankan government and by state-owned media outlets.
This follows the adoption of a resolution by the […]

Best of a bad situation
The Sri Lankan government attempted to make the best of a bad situation by pointing to the narrowness of its defeat at the UN Human Rights Council last week. Out of the 47 countries on the Council, 15 of them supported Sri Lanka and voted against the resolution on Sri Lanka […]

Let’s learn the right lessons from the Geneva outcome, not the wrong ones. It is not the case that a small country
such as Sri Lanka cannot fight a diplomatic battle with the mighty USA and win. Minutes after the Sri Lanka vote at the HRC this time, the Cubans moved a resolution on the composition […]

As the west’s influence wanes, China’s influence in some of the world’s most turbulent countries is on the rise – and having a significant impact
Saferworld’s Ivan Campbell kicked off a panel discussion on Thursday about China’s role in conflict-affected countries with a quote from a government official in South Sudan. “If a man is thirsty, […]

 
GENEVA (14 March 2012) – A group of international experts on the situation of human rights defenders urged today world governments to halt reprisals against individuals and groups seeking to cooperate with the United Nations and regional human rights systems.* They also called on States to ease, rather than hinder, civil society’s access to the […]

Thursday 22nd March, 2012: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday said India’s support to the US resolution at the UN against alleged Sri Lankan war crimes was in line with the government’s stand and urged Colombo to deliver justice to Tamils in the island nation.
“We have to weigh the pros and cons… What we did is […]

UN Human Rights Council Vote on Sri Lanka Reconciliation
Press Statement
Washington, DC
March 22, 2012: Today’s action by the UN Human Rights Council encourages the Government of Sri Lanka to continue on the path toward reconciliation following 27 years of civil war. The United States, together with the international community, sent a strong signal that Sri Lanka will […]

March 22, 2012: India believes that the primary responsibility for the promotion and protection of human rights lies with the States. Consequently resolutions of this nature should fully respect the sovereign rights of states and contribute to Sri Lanka’s own efforts in
this regard.
2. India had welcomed the recommendations of Sri Lanka’s LLRC report. We believe that […]

Statement by the Delegation of the United States of America
Introduction of Draft Resolution L.2 on Promoting Reconciliation and Accountability in Sri Lanka
Delivered by Ambassador Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe
Human Rights Council 19th Session
Geneva,
March 22, 2012: The United States is pleased to introduce draft resolution L.2, on Promoting Reconciliation and Accountability in Sri Lanka for consideration and approval by […]