The 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council is set to begin today, February 24, at 1:30 pm Sri Lankan time. This session marks the first since the new government took office in Sri Lanka.
Minister Vijitha Herath, along with a delegation, left Sri Lanka yesterday to participate in the session and engage in discussions with diplomats from participating countries.
At the heart of the session, the government of Sri Lanka has made it clear that it will oppose the proposal presented at the last session, a stance that has received formal approval from the Cabinet. During this session, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) will also present an oral update on the progress made under resolution 51/1, which focuses on promoting reconciliation, accountability, and human rights in Sri Lanka.
The OHCHR is expected to provide a detailed oral submission at the Human Rights Council in line with resolution 57/1, which extended all the work requested of the office and the council regarding Sri Lanka's human rights situation.
The outcome of this session is highly anticipated, as it could have significant implications for Sri Lanka's human rights trajectory in the coming months.
