Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Madam Vice-President,
Aotearoa New Zealand thanks the Office of the High Commissioner for the report and welcomes the continued attention of the Council on the situation in Sri Lanka, including renewal of the mandate of Resolution 46/1.
New Zealand notes that the report references the impact of the current economic crisis in Sri Lanka on human rights. New Zealand continues to support Sri Lanka and its international partners to address all impacts of the crisis.
New Zealand notes the largely peaceful response of authorities to large-scale protests during the first half of 2022. However, we are concerned by the recent hardening of the Sri Lankan Government’s approach to protestors. New Zealand urges Sri Lanka to ensure full protections for freedom of expression and peaceful protest.
We note that some progress has been made with regards to amending the Prevention of Terrorism Act. We urge Sri Lanka to uphold its commitment to a de-facto moratorium on arrests under the legislation; and to replace the Act with new legislation which aligns with Sri Lanka’s human rights obligations.
New Zealand agrees that accountability measures are critical for enduring peace and prosperity. We urge Sri Lanka to work with the High Commissioner and other partners to strengthen domestic accountability measures, including for historic human rights violations.
Thank you.