Sri Lanka to sign convention on disappearances

Sri Lanka will sign a key UN convention on disappearances of people affected by the three-decade-old ethnic conflict, days after a UN group visited the country on a fact finding mission.
Foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera said Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in New York will sign the Convention today.
Samaraweera said that cabinet has approved the proposal to sign the key Convention.
The signing takes place just weeks after the UN working group on enforced disappearances visited the country on a fact finding mission.
Enforced disappearances are termed a violation of human rights and considered a criminal offence in the convention. The member states are to make legislation based on the convention.

So far 94 states have signed it and 51 states have ratified the convention.

Samaraweera said it was important for Sri Lanka to sign the convention as it had been criticised for disappearances of individuals over a long period of time.
Sri Lanka's human rights record was the subject of three UN Human Rights Council resolutions since 2012. Disappearances of individuals was a major portion of the alleged rights abuse accusations against the country.
"We all know that this is an issue that has plagued and pained our nation for long years. All, irrespective of race, religion, language or geographic location, have been affected by this crime for several decades, even in situations that are unrelated to conflict or unrest," Samaraweera said.

"The criminalisation of enforced disappearance will provide protection to each and every citizen of this country from this crime and will help ensure that the terror of the White Van culture does not reign in our society ever again," he added.