HRW urges EU to set benchmarks of action for GSP+

COLOMBO (News 1st): Humanitarian Organization Human Rights Watch has urged the European Union to set benchmarks of action for Sri Lanka to keep its GSP+ benefits. In a letter addressed to multiple EU representatives, the HRW has called for the EU to state publicly that the Sri Lankan Government is in breach of its human rights obligations under the GSP+ scheme and has introduced several benchmarks with short and transparent timelines to implement them. Accordingly, the HRW states that Sri Lanka should repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act. end attempts to silence the civil society, release prisoners held arbitrarily, withdraw the Parliamentary resolution to implement recommendations of the political victimization committee, to bring stalled human rights cases to a fair trial, and to agree to implement key recommendations of the UN special procedures. The HRW has also encouraged the EU to consider UNHRC High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet's recommendation to impose targeted sanctions on individuals implicated in grave violations. Moreover, the letter emphasizes that results, and not repeated commitments should guide the EU's assessment of the country's implementation of human rights.