The Global Alliance of National Human Right Institutions (GANHRI) has given the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) an “A” status accreditation this month.
GANHRI considers the Member National Human Rights Institutions’ (NHRIs) compliance with the United Nations Paris Principles when issuing status accreditations. An ‘A’ accreditation is required in order for NHRIs to become voting members and to hold governance positions in GANHRI.
The HRCSL issued an official statement today informing its citizens of the designation:
“Of the 120 HRIs reviewed as at January 2018, only 77 were granted ‘A’ status. Aside from Sri Lanka, India and Nepal are the only countries in South Asia to have ‘A’ grade NHRIs. Only 15 countries in the Asia-Pacific region have NHRIs with ‘A’ status accreditation.”
“The upgrading of HRCSL within just two and a half years of its appointment is not only an institutional achievement, but is certainly a victory for the people of Sri Lanka who demanded the establishment of independent commissions through the adoption of the 19th amendment the Constitution. The commission is inspired to work harder for the protection of human rights of all in Sri Lanka.”
Read the full statement here.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Dr. N. Deepika Udagama, Chairperson of the HRCSL, said
“The Commission’s independence both structurally and in practice and effectiveness of the Commission in terms of looking at various human rights issues in the country are looked at by the NHRIs. If a Commission does not work on difficult issues like torture or discrimination, it won’t receive the A grade”.
The rating comes as various NGOs continued to report on the continued use of torture and sexual violence by Sri Lankan security forces.
