AS-321-2006
December 29, 2006
A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission
SRI LANKA: New Year’s Wish List for 2007
1. That fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution be fully honoured; the right against illegal arrest (Article 13.1), the right against illegal detention (article 13.2), the right against torture (Article 11) to be fully respected and implemented, that steps are taken to ensure the right to personal security; that extrajudicial killings and abductions and disappearances be brought to an end by special and firm measures. That the freedom of expression and publication and the rights of the media are fully respected, protected and fulfilled.
2. That all crimes and abuses of human rights will be promptly and competently investigated according to the procedures required by law and the independence and the security of the investigators be guaranteed.
3. That the Attorney General’s Department will be provided with all the necessary human and other resources to ensure speedy prosecution of all cases with particular emphasis on cases relating to human rights abuses.
4. That the right to fair trial be ensured by ending the delays in courts, the absence of witness protection, the reinstitution of the hearing of a trial from beginning to end without undue postponements, resolving of problems relating to resource limitations in courts and bringing about the necessary legal amendments to overcome obstructions for the implementation of fair trial.
5. That the problems of the displaced persons will receive national attention and speedy measures to ensure respect for their dignity under human rights and humanitarian law.
6. That the rights of children be ensured with adequate measures to implement the relevant laws and the improvement of those laws.
7. That practical measures are taken to end discrimination against women in relation to education, employment and participation in social, cultural and political life.
8. That measures are taken speedily to realise equality to all minorities and that practical steps are taken to ensure the easy use of languages that will guarantee fairness to all.
9. That the constitutional crisis over the independent institutions created under the 17th Amendment is brought to an end with the appointment of an independent Constitutional Council and that measures are taken to restore the rule of law through practical measures to improve all the institutions.
10. That practical measures are taken to bring about a law in order to make the views of the United Nations Human Rights Committee implementable within the legal framework of Sri Lanka.
11. That the state accede to the Convention for the Prevention of Forced Disappearances and the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (CAT)
