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New Zealand thanks the High Commissioner for Human Rights for her update.
New Zealand welcomes the High Commissioner’s report on her visit to Sri Lanka, undertaken at the invitation of the President.
We share her concern about the issue of abductions and disappearances, and the inadequate investigation into the majority of these cases.
The current status of the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission and its failure to investigate adequately allegations of human rights abuses is a matter of concern. The Human Rights Commissioner should return to operating in accordance with the Paris Principles for National Human Rights Institutions. Only then can it do its job independently and effectively.
It is no less important that the Commission of Inquiry is able to carry out its task effectively in order to ensure that there is no impunity for the particular incidents it is investigating.
Turning to other issues addressed by the High Commissioner, New Zealand shares her satisfaction about the passage of the resolution on the moratorium on the use of the death penalty. The use of the death penalty compromises the dignity of humanity, and New Zealand has long opposed its use. New Zealand was therefore pleased to be one of the lead co-sponsors of the resolution. We join with others in congratulating Rwanda and Gabon on having taken the highly significant step of abolishing the death penalty.
We too were pleased about the endorsement by the General Assembly of the institution-building package for this body. The universal periodic review holds the potential for fair and equitable assessment of all country human rights situations, in addition to the range of tools available to us for addressing country situations. We welcome the High Commissioner’s assurance that her office will be supportive of the Council in our UPR work.
