{"id":21,"date":"2008-05-17T13:40:45","date_gmt":"2008-05-17T04:40:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/test.hrn.or.jp\/?p=21"},"modified":"2023-10-25T09:47:59","modified_gmt":"2023-10-25T00:47:59","slug":"hrc-sri-lanka-statement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hrn.or.jp\/eng\/news\/2008\/05\/17\/hrc-sri-lanka-statement\/","title":{"rendered":"Asian NGOs call on UN member states to reject Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Council election bid"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

17 May\u00a02008 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Asian \u00a0NGOs \u00a0call \u00a0on \u00a0UN \u00a0memberstates \u00a0to \u00a0reject \u00a0Sri \u00a0Lanka’s \u00a0Human\u3000<\/span>Rights \u00a0Council \u00a0election \u00a0bid \u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Your Excellency, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

We,
\nthe undersigned 84 non-governmental organisations working on human
\nrights in Asia, write to urge that your government not vote for Sri Lanka
\nfor membership in the United Nations Human Rights Council in the
\nelection taking place in the General Assembly on May 21, 2008, because
\nof the country’s evident failure to meet the Council’s membership
\nstandards. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Asia<\/span><\/span>
\ndoes not have a functioning regional human rights system, making the
\nUnited Nations’ human rights mechanisms, notably the Human Rights
\nCouncil, of increased significance for victims in the region. Under the
\nHuman Rights Council, <\/span>Asia<\/span> now has 13
\nmembers and an increasingly important role to play in steering the
\nglobal effort in favour of human rights. Ensuring the highest standard
\nof Council members from the Asian region is of great importance. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

We
\nhave therefore carefully scrutinized the human rights records of the
\nsix candidates currently vying for the four seats available to the
\nAsian region in the upcoming election, based on our collective
\nexperience as Asian NGOs working to improve human rights protection in Asia. Sri Lanka
\nstands out as the candidate that suffers from the gravest ongoing human
\nrights violations, the most significant lack of cooperation with the
\nCouncil, and the least evidence of measures being taken to protect
\ncitizens from violations and to deliver justice and reparation to
\nvictims of abuses. Sri Lanka
\nis without doubt the least suitable candidate of all those bidding for
\nelection this year, making it vital for your government to not support
\nit. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

We
\nwrite to support the position of human rights organizations from Sri
\nLanka that wrote to UN members on April 28, 2008, stating that the
\ngovernment of Sri Lanka fails to meet the Council’s membership
\nstandards, has “presided over a grave deterioration of human rights
\nprotection” since first winning membership in 2006, and “has used its
\nmembership of the Human Rights Council to protect itself from
\nscrutiny.”. We also strongly support the campaign launched on May 6,
\n2008, by a coalition of international NGOs opposing Sri Lanka’s candidacy (please see further at: http:\/\/www.hrw.org\/effectiveHRC\/SriLanka\/<\/span>). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

We
\nrecall that General Assembly (GA) resolution 60\/251 requires that
\n“members elected to the Council shall uphold the highest standards in
\nthe promotion and protection of human rights” and “fully cooperate”
\nwith the Council. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Failure to uphold the highest standards: <\/span><\/span><\/b>It is very clear that <\/span>Sri Lanka<\/span>
\nhas not only failed to meet this central criterion for membership in
\nthe Council during the last two years, but has become one of the worst
\nhuman rights violators in the region and among the most negative <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

voices
\nwithin the Council during this time. Sri Lankan government forces have
\nbeen directly implicated in a wide range of grave rights abuses,
\nincluding:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0hundreds of extrajudicial killings, including of humanitarian workers;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 \u00a0hundreds
\nof enforced disappearances, the highest rate of new cases recorded by
\nthe Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances in 2007;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 \u00a0arbitrary arrests and long-term detentions without charge or trial;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 \u00a0widespread
\ntorture of detainees, “a routine practice … both by the police and
\nthe armed forces” according the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 \u00a0forcibly returning internally displaced persons to unsafe areas;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 \u00a0unwarranted restrictions on media freedoms, and threats and killings of journalists;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 \u00a0complicity with the recruitment of child soldiers by the Karuna militia;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 \u00a0denunciations and threats against human rights defenders and humanitarian workers.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Few
\nif any proper investigations have been launched into these most serious
\nrights abuses and impunity reigns. Political will and sincerity on the
\npart of the authorities to address these human rights remains elusive.
\nThese problems are compounded by the authorities having failed to
\nprovide easily accessible avenues enabling victims of human rights
\nabuses to make complaints. Extreme delays in adjudication make it
\nnear-futile to pursue such complaints, when made. Witnesses and victims
\nhave been harassed and even killed while seeking redress. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Failure to cooperate: <\/span><\/span><\/b>Sri Lanka<\/span><\/span>
\nhas been a member of the Council over the last two years, while its
\ngovernment forces have continued committing widespread violations, so
\nthere can be no pretence that its future membership will bring about
\npositive change. Instead, it is clear that <\/span>Sri Lanka<\/span>
\nis making use of its Council membership to shield itself from
\ncriticism, thus undermining the Council itself and all the efforts made
\nby UN members to create a Council free from the destructive forces that
\nfatally damaged the Commission on Human Rights. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Cooperation
\nwith the Council should not just be measured simply by a state’s
\ninviting international officials to visit, but also through the quality
\nof the cooperation with such experts and other mechanisms, as well as
\nthe extent to which their recommendations are implemented. On these
\ncounts, Sri Lanka’s
\nrecord is deplorable. Sri Lankan government officials have launched
\nunacceptable and unfounded personal attacks on respected international
\nofficials who have visited the country and raised human rights
\nconcerns. These include U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise
\nArbour, U.N. Special Advisor on Children and Armed Conflict Allan Rock,
\nU.N. Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes. When
\nSecretary-General Ban Ki-moon called such comments “unacceptable and
\nunwarranted,” a Sri Lankan cabinet minister said that he “didn’t give a
\ndamn” what the U.N. secretary-general had to say. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The
\nSri Lankan government has made desperate attempts to block a realistic
\nsolution to the grave situation in the country by refusing much needed
\ninternational assistance, notably by rebuffing the key recommendation
\nby several special procedures and by the OHCHR to establish a human
\nrights monitoring mission under the auspices of the UN to document and
\nreport on violations committed by all sides to the conflict and to
\nprevent further violations. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sri Lanka<\/span><\/span> has a very poor record on cooperation with the Council’s special procedures: the government did not reply to <\/span>any <\/span><\/i>of
\nthe 12 questionnaires sent by special procedures mandate holders
\nbetween 1\/1\/2004 and 31\/12\/2007, nor to over half of the 94 letters of
\nallegations and urgent appeals sent by special procedures in that
\nperiod. <\/span>Sri Lanka<\/span>
\nhas not implemented the principal recommendations of the Working Group
\non Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances and the Special Rapporteur on
\nExtrajudicial Killings. The Special Rapporteur on Torture and other
\nCruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment observed that Sri
\nLankan authorities impeded his fact-finding, citing “instances where
\ndetainees were hidden or brought away shortly before the Special
\nRapporteur arrived.” <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

We
\nabhor all acts of violence and recognise that the armed separatist
\nLiberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are responsible for numerous
\nand ongoing serious human rights violations. We call on them to cease
\nall such abuses immediately. However, abuses by non-state armed groups
\ndo not justify rights violations by state forces. The government has
\nbeen hiding behind such justifications rather than taking concrete
\naction to protect rights and deliver justice to victims. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Don’t vote for <\/span>Sri Lanka<\/span>: <\/span><\/span><\/b>A vote for <\/span>Sri Lanka<\/span>
\nis a vote for disappearances, widespread torture, extra-judicial
\nkillings and impunity. It is a vote to undermine the Human Rights
\nCouncil and therefore a vote against victims of human rights the world
\nover. We who work directly with victims urge you in the strongest
\npossible terms to take this opportunity to show your government’s
\nsupport for present and potential victims of human rights, as well as
\nsupport for the Human Rights Council. The rejection of <\/span>Sri Lanka<\/span>‘s
\nbid would strengthen the Council, shielding it from those that seek to
\nmisuse it at the cost of many lives. Local, regional and international
\nNGOs are united in calling on you to resoundingly reject this year’s
\nworst candidate. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Don’t vote for <\/span>Sri Lanka<\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Signed by the following 84 NGOs: <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0ADHOC, Cambodia, Mr. Thun Saray, President<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2.\u00a0Advocacy Forum, Nepal, Mandira Sharma, Executive Director<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

3.\u00a0All India Catholic Union, India, Mr. John Dayal, Chairperson<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

4.\u00a0Alliance<\/span><\/span> for the Advancement of People’s Rights (KARAPATAN), <\/span>Philippines<\/span>, Ms. Marie Hilao-Enriquez, Secretary General<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

5.\u00a0Angikar Bangladesh Foundation, Bangladesh, Muhammad Hilaluddin,<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

6.\u00a0Asia Monitor Resource Centre (AMRC), Hong Kong, Sanjiv Padita, Director<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

7.\u00a0Asian<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Center<\/span><\/span><\/span> for the Progress of Peoples (ACPP), <\/span><\/span><\/span>Hong Kong<\/span><\/span><\/span>, Linda Noche, Coordinator<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

8.\u00a0Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), Philippines, Mary Aileen D. Bacalso, Secretary General<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

9.\u00a0Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), Thailand, Yap Sweeseng, Acting Executive Director<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

10.\u00a0Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), Hong Kong, Michael Anthony, Programme Coordinator<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

11.\u00a0Bahrain<\/span><\/span> Centre for Human Rights, <\/span>Bahrain<\/span>, Abdulhadi Alkhawaja, President<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

12.\u00a0Balay Rehabilitation Center Inc. , Philippines, Sister Arnold Maria Noel, Secretary-Board of Directors<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

13. \u00a0Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), India, Kirity Roy, President<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

14. \u00a0Bhumi Haqdari Morcha, India, Mr. Maheshanand Bhai , Secretary<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

15. \u00a0Bhumi Hukka Andolan , India, John.P.Abraham, Executive Director<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

16. \u00a0Cambodian<\/span><\/span>Center<\/span> for Human Rights (CCHR) , <\/span>Cambodia<\/span>, Mr. Ou Virak, President<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

17. \u00a0Campaign for Alternative Industry Network, Thailand, Penchom Tang, Coordinator<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

18. \u00a0Catholic Human Rights Committee (CHRC) , Republic of Korea, Bae Yeo-jin , Activist<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

19. \u00a0Center for Peace Education, Philippines, Loreta Castro, Executive Director<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

20. \u00a0Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR), Philippines, Daisy Arago, Executive<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

21. \u00a0Centre for Organisation Research & Education (CORE), India, Dr D Roy Laifungbam, Director<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

22. \u00a0Citizen Front, India, Mr. Tanweer Ahmed Sidiqui , Convener<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

23. \u00a0Citizens Alliance Unified for Sectoral Empowerment in Davao del Sur (CAUSE-DS), Philippines, Peter Jason Senarillos,<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

24.\u00a0Committee to Support Imprisoned Workers , Republic of Korea, Lee Gwang-yeol, Director<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

25. \u00a0Commonwealth
\nHuman Rights Initiative, India , R.Iniyan Ilango, Consultant &
\nActing Co-ordinator, Human Rights Advocacy Programme<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

26. \u00a0Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Rome, Japan, Ludo Goossens, Missionary<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

27. \u00a0Cross Culture Foundation, Thailand, Pornpen Khongkajonkiet<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

28. \u00a0Dalit Women Forum (DWF), India, Ms. Ch. Vijaya Kumari, Executive Secretary<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

29. \u00a0Documentation Research Training Centre, India, Ms Pamela Fernandes, Extension Worker, Hotline India<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

30. \u00a0Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace (EMJP), Philippines, Girlie Padilla<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

31. \u00a0Friend of Tripe Hill group, Thailand, Suriyan Thongnoo-ead<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

32. \u00a0Global Human Rights Defense, Bangladesh, Rabindra Ghosh<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

33. \u00a0Green and Purple Sanctuary (GPS), Philippines, Odalie Adiao-Garcia, Co-Founder<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

34. \u00a0Guria<\/span><\/span>, <\/span>India<\/span><\/span>, Ajeet Singh, President<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

35. \u00a0Hong Kong Christian Institute (HKCI) , Hong Kong, TOO Kin Wai, Acting Director<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

36. \u00a0Hotline Delhi, India, Antony Arulraj, Extension Worker<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

37. \u00a0Hotline Human Rights Bangladesh, Bangladesh, Rosaline Costa, Human Rights Advocate<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

38. \u00a0Human Rights Alert, India, Babloo Loitongbam, Executive Director<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

39. \u00a0Human Rights Council of Australia Inc, HRCA, Australia, Andr\u00e9 Frankovits , International Project Director<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

40. \u00a0Human Rights Now, Japan, Kazuko Ito, Secretary General<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

41. \u00a0IMPARSIAL, the Indonesian Human Rights Monitor, Indonesia, Poengky Indarti, Director of External Relations<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

42. \u00a0International<\/span><\/span>Center<\/span> for Law in Development, <\/span>United States of America<\/span>, Dr. Clarence J. Dias, President<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

43. \u00a0IPANI, India, Fatima PBVM, Coordinator<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

44. \u00a0Jananeethi
\nInstitute For Research And Training In Democracy, Human Rights, Rule Of
\nLaw, Conflict Resolution, Gender,Therapeutic Jurisprudence, Clinical
\nLegal Education And Environmental Protection (Jananeethi Institute),
\nIndia, George Pulikuthiyil, Executive Director<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

45. \u00a0Japan<\/span><\/span> Catholic Council for <\/span>Justice<\/span>&<\/span>Peace<\/span>, <\/span>Japan<\/span>, Fr.Francis Fukamizu, Board Member<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

46. \u00a0Jesuit Social Center<\/span><\/span>, <\/span>Japan<\/span><\/span>, Ando Isamu, Director<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

47. \u00a0Justice and Peace Commission of Bishops’ Conference of Indonesia (KKP-KWI), Indonesia, Fr. Serafin Dany Sanusi, OSC , Secretary of Commission<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

48. \u00a0Kabir Panth – Kabir Chaura Math, India, Sant Vivek Das , Head<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

49. \u00a0Kapaeeng Watch<\/span><\/span>, <\/span>Bangladesh<\/span><\/span>, Aungkyew Mong, Coordinator<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

50. \u00a0Kasiyana Peace and Healing Initiatives, Philippines, Florence Macagne-Manegdeg, Program Coordinator<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

51. \u00a0Korean House for International Solidarity (KHIS) , Republic of Korea, Regina Pyon Yeon-shik, Co-representative<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

52. \u00a0Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Masyarakat (Community Legal Aid Institute) , Indonesia, Taufik Basari, Chairperson of the Board of Directors<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

53. \u00a0Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Surabaya (Surabaya Legal Aid Institute), Indonesia, Mr. Athoillah, Head of Operational Division<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

54. \u00a0Mahila Adhikar Manch, India, Ms. Sandhya , Convener<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

55. \u00a0Mahila Samakhya<\/span><\/span>, <\/span>India<\/span><\/span>, Ms. Kumkum , Secretary<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

56. \u00a0Migrant Forum in Asia, Hong Kong, William Gois , Regional Coordinator<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

57. \u00a0National Alliance of Women Human Rights Defenders (NAWHRD) , Nepal, Dr. Renu Rajbhandari, National Coordinator<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

58. \u00a0National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) – Pakistan, Pakistan, Kiran Afzaal, Extension Worker Hotline Asia<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

59. \u00a0Navsarjan Trust<\/span><\/span>, <\/span>India<\/span><\/span>, Ms. Manjula Pradeep , Executive Director<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

60. \u00a0Neervazhi<\/span><\/span>, <\/span>India<\/span><\/span>, Mr. T. K. Naveenachandran , Secretary<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

61. \u00a0Neethi Vedhi (Forum for Justice), India, Adv. Fr. Stephen Mathew, Director<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

62. \u00a0Nonviolence International, Thailand, Diana Sarosi<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

63. \u00a0People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL Bihar Unit), India, Mr. Ram Ashray Singh , Secretary General<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

64. \u00a0People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), India, Mr. Chitranjan Singh , National Secretary<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

65. \u00a0People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), India, Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi, Director<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

66. \u00a0People’s Watch, India, Henri Tiphagne, Executive Director<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

67. \u00a0Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims (RCT) – Denmark, Denmark, Erik Wendt, Program Manager Asia<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

68. \u00a0Rights Development Centre, Bangladesh, Mr. F. M. Abdur Razzak, Executive Director<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

69. \u00a0Sasvika Sangatan ( Organization For Community Based Health & Development), India, Carol Geeta, Director<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

70. \u00a0Savitri Bai Phule Women Forum (SWF) , India, Shruti Nagvanshi, Coordinator<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

71. \u00a0Swanchetan Society<\/span><\/span>, <\/span>India<\/span><\/span>, Dr. Rajat Mitra, President<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

72. \u00a0Sophia Institute, India, Sr. Carol , Secretary<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

73. \u00a0South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring (SICHREM), India, Mathews Philip, Executive Director<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

74. \u00a0Southern Thai-NGOs-COD, Thailand, Bunjong Na-sae<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

75. \u00a0Stree Adhikar Sanghatan, India, Ms. Padma , Convener<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

76. \u00a0Thai<\/span><\/span>Sea<\/span> Watch Association, <\/span>Thailand<\/span>, Suppawan Chanasongkram<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

77. \u00a0Thai Volunteer Service, Thailand, Vattana Narkpradit<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

78. \u00a0The Human Rights Working Group (HRWG), Indonesia, Mr. Ali Akbar , Program Officer<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

79. \u00a0The Indonesian Association of Families of the Disappeared (IKOHI), Indonesia, Mr. Mugiyanto, Chairperson<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

80. \u00a0The Legal Aid Institute of Jakarta (LBH Jakarta), Indonesia, Mr. Asfinawati, Executive Director<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

81. \u00a0Women’s Rehabilitation Centre, Nepal (WOREC Nepal), Nepal, Ms. Jyotsna Maskay, Executive Director<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

82. \u00a0Working Group Justice for Peace, Thailand, Angkana Neelapaijit<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

83. \u00a0World Student Christian Federation Asia Pacific Region (WSCF AP), Hong Kong, Necta Montes Rocas, Regional Secretary<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

84. \u00a0Young Muslim Association of Thailand, Thailand, Abdulasis Tade-in<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

17 May\u00a02008 Asian \u00a0NGOs \u00a0call \u00a0on \u00a0UN \u00a0memberstates \u00a0to \u00a0reject \u00a0Sri \u00a0Lanka’s \u00a0Human\u3000Rights \u00a0Council \u00a0election \u00a0bid \u00a0 Your Excellency, We, the undersigned 84 non-governmental organisations working on human rights in Asia, write to urge that your government not vote for Sri Lanka for membership in the United Nations Human Rights Council in the election taking place in the General Assembly on May 21, 2008, because of the country’s evident failure to meet the Council’s membership standards. Asia does not have a functioning regional human rights system, making the United Nations’ human rights mechanisms, notably the Human Rights Council, of increased significance for victims in the region. Under the Human Rights […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[17,5],"countries":[240],"class_list":["post-21","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-statement","tag-human-rights-violation-under-armed-conflictsmilitary-operation","tag-united-nations","countries-sri-lanka"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrn.or.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrn.or.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrn.or.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrn.or.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrn.or.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/hrn.or.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5167,"href":"https:\/\/hrn.or.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21\/revisions\/5167"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrn.or.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrn.or.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrn.or.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21"},{"taxonomy":"countries","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrn.or.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/countries?post=21"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}