39th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council begins

Colombo (News1st) - The 39th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) began in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday (Sept 10th). Michelle Bachelet, the new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights addressing her first regular session reaffirmed her commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In its official website, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has mentioned that " In Sri Lanka, although the authorities have moved too slowly towards meaningful implementation of the transitional justice agenda, the Office of Missing Persons has now begun consultations and institutional capacity-building to fulfil its mandate." It added "We look to that Office to work quickly, to begin to provide answers to the families of the disappeared. Legislation establishing an Office for Reparations is also underway. More progress in advancing accountability and truth-seeking could have great weight in the long-term stability and prosperity of the nation." Two special reports on Sri Lanka are due to be presented during the 39th session. The report compiled by the working group on arbitrary detention following it's visit to Sri Lanka is due to be presented during this session along with the report compiled by the special rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation, and guarantees of non-recurrence.