On Tuesday, July 11, the United Kingdom applauded Sri Lanka’s positive participation in the Universal Periodic Review process and the early actions taken to advance in some areas since its previous review.
This was stated by the UK government in a statement released the day after the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on July 10 approved the findings of Sri Lanka, Japan, and Pakistan’s Universal Periodic Review. Due to timing restrictions, the statement for Sri Lanka’s UPR adoption had not been provided.
All UN member nations’ records on human rights are examined as part of the Universal Periodic Review process. Other member states offer suggestions for ways the nation under evaluation can strengthen its human rights record during the review. The evaluated nation has the option to accept or reject the recommendations in the interim.
Sri Lanka received 294 suggestions during its evaluation, of which 121 were noticed and 173 were supported.
The UK government has urged Sri Lanka to change its mind about its two other recommendations, which are repealing certain sections of the Penal Code to decriminalise same-sex conduct and ensure equality in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity, and commemorating and memorialising civil war victims.
In the meantime, Sri Lanka has agreed to the UK’s advice about worries about government departments’ limits and land expropriation in the north and east.
