Originally published on the CGS blog on September 14, 2009.
This morning the 12th session of the Human Rights Council opened in Geneva, Switzerland. It began with statements from three high-level dignitaries. The first was the Sri Lankan Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe. Samarasinghe said that Sri Lanka is working on creating a lasting solution to the violent conflict that ended in June 2009. The government is doing its best to “restore, rebuild and renew the foundations of a democratic social order.” At the end of the conflict, 290,000 hostages were rescued from the Tamil Tigers (a rebel group), and now 14,500 are living with relatives and 31,000 have been reunited with family members. Samarasinghe also stressed the importance of protecting policital, economic, social, and cultural rights, along with the right to development.
The second speaker was Esther Brimmer, the Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs of the United States. She said that the U.S. took its seat on the Human Rights Council with a sense of “mutal respect”. Brimmer also stated that one of the most fundamental rights of the state was to protect human rights. The United States’ goals for the Human Rights Council centered around the themes of universality, dialogue, principle, and truth. She also said that the U.S. was dedicated to working with others to address human rights violations throughout the world.
The third speaker was Princess Bajrakitiyabha of Thailand. She stressed the importance and urgency on focusing on violence against women. Also, she stated that the treatment of women prisoners needed to be addressed.
For a more detailed summary of the morning session, click here. The afternoon session is scheduled to begin at 3pm. For more information on the Human Rights Council click here.
