US Secretary of State John Kerry, today hailed the role played by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Sri Lanka.
In his speech during the High Level segment of the 28th session of the UNHRC, which began today, Kerry noted that there is an opportunity for change in Sri Lanka.
“Consider the indispensable role the HRC has played in encouraging leaders to live up to their promises and commitments in countries such as Burma and Sri Lanka, where there are opportunities for real change,” he said.
In his speech, Kerry noted that the more the international community understands about specific human rights violations, the greater the pressure will be on bad actors to change course.
“And eventually – not always overnight, but eventually – that pressure often translates into the kind of change that saves lives and expands freedom,” he added.
Kerry noted that when the stakes are as high as they are today – when people in every corner of the globe are denied rights they deserve – the HRC must live up to the standards upon which it was created. (Colombo Gazette)