136. Les acteurs qui ont pris part aux consultations publiques ont reconnu que la situation globale des droits de l’homme à Sri Lanka s’était améliorée depuis janvier 2015.
Néanmoins, les points de vue ont divergé quant à la vitesse des progrès réalisés et aux taux et à la fréquence de mise en œuvre des engagements pris par le Gouvernement en ce qui concerne les droits de l’homme.
137. Parmi les grandes priorités mises en avant pendant les consultations publiques, on peut souligner les suivantes : accélérer les réformes constitutionnelles et renforcer le chapitre de la Constitution consacré aux droits fondamentaux en prévoyant i) des droits spécifiques comme le droit à la vie et le droit de ne pas faire l’objet de discrimination fondée sur l’orientation sexuelle et l’identité de genre, ii) des droits économiques, sociaux et culturels opposables, iii) la possibilité d’engager des poursuites contre les acteurs non étatiques coupables de violations des droits de l’homme et iv) la création de tribunaux régionaux compétents pour statuer en matière de droits fondamentaux ; renforcer les garanties d’une procédure régulière pendant l’arrestation des suspects, réduire le nombre de cas de torture et les retards excessifs dans les enquêtes, les poursuites et les condamnations dans les affaires de torture ; abroger la loi sur la prévention du terrorisme et la remplacer par une loi conforme aux normes internationales et adopter des textes de loi criminalisant les disparitions forcées ; rendre opérationnel le Bureau des personnes disparues et le doter
de ressources suffisantes ; et faire en sorte que justice soit rendue pour ce qui est des violations passées des droits de l’homme, notamment des attaques perpétrées contre des journalistes.
138. Les grandes priorités consistent également à : prévenir les actes de violence et d’intimidation envers les communautés religieuses et ethniques, veiller à ce que les auteurs de violations, notamment de discours haineux, soient poursuivis et punis et garantir l’application de la loi sur le Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques ; renforcer l’indépendance institutionnelle de la Division de protection des témoins de la police et informer le public des procédures et recours prévus par la loi relative à l’assistance et à la protection accordées aux victimes d’infractions et aux témoins ; accélérer la restitution des terres privées détenues par les autorités publiques, dont les forces de sécurité, et régler le problème de l’occupation des terres par les organismes publics, en particulier dans l’est du pays ; régler les problèmes particuliers posés par la mise en œuvre de la politique linguistique officielle : premièrement, les problèmes liés à l’administration publique générale pour ce qui est de l’accès aux services publics comme l’éducation, la santé et la documentation dans la langue voulue, et deuxièmement, ceux qui sont liés au recrutement de policières de langue tamoule dans les services de police chargés des affaires concernant les femmes et les enfants ; régler les problèmes particuliers rencontrés par les femmes, notamment en ce qui concerne les pratiques et les dispositions législatives discriminatoires, accroître la participation des femmes à la vie politique, accélérer les poursuites engagées contre les auteurs de violence à l’égard des femmes et la condamnation de ces personnes, lancer des initiatives et engager des réformes en faveur des groupes vulnérables comme les ménages dirigés par des femmes, les femmes touchées par les conflits, les anciennes combattantes, les migrantes, les femmes appartenant à des minorités ethniques et des groupes religieux et les femmes handicapées ; et régler les problèmes particuliers rencontrés par les enfants et les adolescents, dont l’exposition au travail des enfants, au risque de devenir sans-abri et à la toxicomanie.
139. Les priorités liées à des groupes particuliers sont notamment les suivantes : améliorer les possibilités d’emploi des jeunes dans le cadre des projets de développement locaux, en particulier dans l’est du pays ; régler les problèmes particuliers rencontrés par les personnes handicapées, y compris par les enfants handicapés, en matière d’emploi, d’éducation et d’accès aux services publics et aux services de base ; régler les problèmes particuliers que rencontre la communauté Adivasi (un groupe autochtone) pour ce qui est de protéger et de préserver sa culture, sa langue et ses traditions et de s’assurer des moyens de subsistance viables ; régler les problèmes particuliers rencontrés par les communautés du secteur des plantations, en particulier pour ce qui est de l’accès à l’éducation, aux soins de santé et au logement et de la langue ; mettre en œuvre la politique permettant de trouver des solutions durables pour les personnes déplacées à la suite d’un conflit afin de régler les problèmes rencontrés par les personnes déplacées et réfugiées qui rentrent chez elles sur le plan foncier et en matière de moyens de subsistance et d’emploi, ainsi que les problèmes liés à la perte de documents d’identité ; adopter une politique globale concernant les demandeurs d’asile et les personnes apatrides ; et rendre l’éducation aux droits de l’homme obligatoire pour les élèves.
140. Les préoccupations soulevées pendant ces consultations sont traitées dans le présent rapport national dans la mesure du possible. Le Gouvernement sait gré aux participants pour les idées constructives qu’ils ont exprimées pendant les consultations et, de ce fait, pour leur contribution à l’élaboration du présent rapport national. Le Gouvernement est conscient des problèmes qui existent en matière de promotion et de protection des droits de l’homme à Sri Lanka et réaffirme sa détermination à réaliser pleinement les droits de l’homme dans le pays.
Notes
1 From the Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, 5 June 2008, (A/HRC/8/46).
2 The Chapter contains, inter alia, the freedom of thought, conscience and religion, the freedom from torture, the right to equality and non-discrimination, the freedom from arbitrary arrest, detention and punishment, and the freedoms of speech, assembly, association and movement.
3 Sriyani Silva v. Iddamalgoda [2003] 2 Sri.L.R. 63.
4 Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) Act No. 22 of 1994.
5 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
6 The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Act No. 56 of 2007.
7 For instance, section 5(2) of the ICCPR Act entrenches the ‘best interests of the child’ principle by providing: ‘In all matters concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interest of the child shall be of paramount importance’.
8 From the Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, 18 December 2012 (A/HRC/22/16).
9 Act No. 4 of 2015.
10 The Victims of Crime and Witnesses Assistance and Protection Fund.
11 The National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses.
12 The Victims of Crime and Witnesses Assistance and Protection Division.
13 Under the proposed legislation on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a new authority with oversight functions with respect to disability rights will be established. Moreover, a draft Bill on the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance received the approval of Cabinet, and will be discussed in Parliament with a view to ensuring its early enactment.
14 Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act No. 48 of 1979.
15 The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
16 However, these institutional arrangements are subject to the overall accountability and effective monitoring and reporting of the MWCA as the apex body concerned with the rights of the child.
17 From the Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (Addendum) – Views on conclusions and/or recommendations, voluntary commitments and replies presented by the State under review, 21 February 2013 (A/HRC/22/16/Add.1).
18 These areas include (1) civil and political rights, (2) economic social and cultural rights, (3) prevention of torture, (4) women’s rights, (5) child rights, (6) rights of migrant workers, (7) rights of internally displaced persons, (8) rights of persons with disabilities, (9) labour rights, and (10) environmental rights.
19 For instance, the Parliament of Sri Lanka and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association hosted a Commonwealth Regional Seminar on the Role of Parliamentarians in the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in February 2016. Members of Parliament, ministers and human rights experts from Sri Lanka and other Commonwealth countries in Asia including Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and the Maldives attended the seminar.
20 Resolutions 30/1and 34/1 titled ‘Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka’ were adopted by consensus in September 2015 and March 2017 respectively.
21 The Policy provides direction to the process of reconciliation in the country, and steers all stakeholders working on reconciliation towards a uniform and coherent approach to national reconciliation.
22 Consequent to a joint Cabinet Memorandum submitted by the President as the Minister of National Integration and Reconciliation, and the Minister of National Co-existence, Dialogue and Official Languages.
23 The SCRM is currently engaged with the UN in finalising the monitoring and evaluation components of the Plan in addition to finalising the concept notes which have been developed in close
coordination with key government stakeholders and UN agencies.
24 The Chairperson of ONUR, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, chairs this Committee, and the Secretary General of the SCRM serves as the convenor of the Committee.
25 The recommendations of the abovementioned CTF were fully considered in the drafting process.
26 General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary Level (O/L) and Advance Level (A/L) examinations.
27 The workshops aim to train over 1,000 Development Officers in the provision of support to traumatised individuals in their respective communities.
28 Under section 55 of the Police Ordinance, No. 16 of 1865.
29 The Bill proposes to criminalise enforced disappearance, and to provide the families of victims with
effective remedies to obtain compensation and to seek information on the whereabouts of victims.
30 Act No. 19 of 2010.
31 Act No. 12 of 2016.
32 A Cabinet Sub-Committee to grant relief to media personnel who were harassed or attacked during 2005-2015 called for appeals until 1 May 2017.
33 In 2016, 133 cultural and religious festivals were celebrated on a multi-cultural basis, with the participation of over 47,500 students in 1,009 schools in 21 districts. Similar cultural and multi-religious festivals will be celebrated in 2017 to ensure that children of different ethnic and multi-religious backgrounds appreciate the values and customs of their compatriots.
34 The Plan was prepared to allow inclusive and sustainable peace and development, co-existence and reconciliation through the three pillars of ethics, education and empowerment.
35 The Ministry of National Co-existence, Dialogue and Official Languages has completed
conversational workshops for secretaries of ministries, district secretariats (25 districts) and divisional secretariats (331 divisions) and for heads of the local government institutions.
36 Section 120 (5) of No. 5 of 2015 provides: ‘The Pharmacist shall when dispensing the medicine, medical device or borderline product provide the customer with a description of such medicine, medical device or borderline product, in the language requested for by such customer.’
37 Education Ordinance, No. 31 of 1939.
38 The Plan was formulated in consultation with national level education agencies and the Provincial Education Authorities (PEAs). It is a comprehensive plan based on national education policies, international commitments, government policy declarations on education, and the concerns of PEAs.
39 Ministry of Education developed the Child Friendly Guidelines in collaboration with the Australian Government and UNICEF.
40 The Ministry of Education allocates 10% of its budget for subsidies to provide free textbooks to all students from grade 1 to grade 11. Furthermore, vouchers for school uniform material are provided to all students. 72,480 bursaries are meanwhile provided to children of low-income families to enhance access to secondary education. Additionally, school nutrition programmes are implemented in approximately 8,023 focus schools in underprivileged areas.
41 Budgetary provisions have been allocated to construct 8,000 housing units in the Northern and Eastern provinces to meet the immediate and urgent requirements. Further, 1,000 partially damaged houses will be repaired in the Northern and the Eastern provinces. This programme will provide IDPs and refugee returnees with affordable and appropriate housing solutions with social infrastructure and livelihood protection.
42 Accordingly, a Bureau directly under the President has been established to coordinate the state and private sectors as well as the public in the reduction of poverty and in the implementation of a community-driven collaborative rural development approach.
43 The plans were drafted in consultation with the district secretaries, development agencies and community leaders.
44 The model farm in Kilinochchi is under the supervision of the University of Jaffna and the Hambantota farm is under the supervision of the University of Ruhuna.
45 Additionally, the Ministry of Rural Economy has developed projects to support livestock farming, which plays a major role in alleviating poverty and increasing the nutritional level of rural
communities. Several livestock projects are being implemented island-wide, in collaboration with the Provincial Department of Animal Production and Health, to promote and upgrade dairy, goat, sheep, swine and poultry farming. The GOSL has also played a facilitating role by establishing livestock farmer training centres in Kilinochchi and Vavuniya in the Northern Province and at Uppuveli and Batticaloa in the Eastern Province.
46 The Plan was prepared by the Ministry of Labour in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. The policy applies to all sectors including agriculture, industry, construction, tourism and transport.
47 The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children (Palermo Protocol).
48 Meetings were held with law enforcement officers, medical personnel, health care workers, village leaders and representatives from schools to review the GBV response mechanisms.
49 Prevention of Domestic Violence Act No. 34 of 2005.
50 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. New legislation titled Sri Lanka Employment Migration Authority Act seeks to set up an authority on Migration that would provide a more expanded role for the SLBFE. The new legislation would provide for the establishment of a National Chamber of Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies and the setting up of a Foreign Employment Promotion Fund.
51 Children and Young Persons Ordinance, Act No. 48 of 1939.
52 As a Pathfinder Country, Sri Lanka has pledged to develop and implement a new strategy in line with the SDG 2030 agenda in order to deliver the vision of a world where all children grow up free from violence and exploitation.
53 Public Administration Circular No. 27/88 of 18 August 1988.
54 The loss of legal entitlement to one’s land due to the adverse possession of such land by another party over a period of ten years.
55 Act No. 5 of 2016.
56 Act No. 21 of 2003.
57 The Ministry of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs.
58 The Policy delineates the roles and responsibilities of relevant government institutions and their national and international partners, describes the challenges that must be addressed as a matter of urgency, sets out a process for monitoring implementation of the Policy, and provides for redress through grievance mechanisms.
59 SDG 16 is relevant, as it aims to ‘promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.’ The SDG contains targets specifically relevant to human rights, such as: (a) Ensuring public access to information and protecting fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements; and (b) Strengthening relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels, in particular in developing countries, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime.