HR improvement in Sri Lanka; concerns remain: UK Human Rights Report 2015

Apr 25, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka continues to be named as one of 30 ‘Human Rights Priority Countries’ (HRPCs); where the UK has serious human rights concerns and hopes to engage positively, the United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Annual Human Rights Report says. The report commends improvement in the human rights situation in Sri Lanka during 2015, while also noting that some concerns still remain. It recognizes the positive steps taken by Sri Lanka during 2015 to improve freedom of expression (including in the media) and freedom of movement, reduce inter-community tensions, and restore the independence of institutions such as the Human Rights Commission. The Report also commends the government’s willingness to engage with the international community and the co-sponsoring of a UN Human Rights Council (HRC) resolution in October committing to reconciliation, accountability and the protection of human rights. While appreciating the government’s willingness to address these issues, the report also notes that positive changes are less apparent in the north and east. Human rights defenders continued to report harassment and surveillance in 2015 and incidents of torture, and sexual and gender-based violence. UK Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged 6.6 million British Pounds over the next three years to continue support for reconciliation and human rights. Work with the government of Sri Lanka will aim to continue strengthening democracy and the rule of law, sharing UK experience and expertise. “This report is not intended to be an exhaustive list of human rights trouble spots; Nor is it a homogeneous group,” UK Foreign Secretary, Phillip Hammond said launching the report in London. “Rather, we have chosen to focus on 30 countries where we judge that the UK can make a real difference.” The Report underlines the UK’s desire to work positively with countries facing human rights challenges to help them improve their human rights performance. The 30 HRPCs are: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Burma, Burundi, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Libya, Maldives, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Yemen, Zimbabwe. The FCO began publishing the Annual Human Rights Report in 1998.