India abstains on Sri Lanka vote at UN Human Rights Council

ForumIAS announcing GS Foundation Program for UPSC CSE 2025-26 from 19 April. Click Here for more information.

ForumIAS Answer Writing Focus Group (AWFG) for Mains 2024 commencing from 24th June 2024. The Entrance Test for the program will be held on 28th April 2024 at 9 AM. To know more about the program visit: https://forumias.com/blog/awfg2024

Source: The post is based on the article “India abstains on Sri Lanka vote at UN Human Rights Council” published in The Hindu on 7th October 2022.

What is the News?

India abstained from voting on a resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council. India observed that Sri Lanka’s progress in implementing commitments on the 13th Amendment such as meaningful devolution and early provincial elections remains “inadequate”.

About the UN resolution on Sri Lanka

The resolution titled ‘Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka’ was adopted by the Council after 20 of its 47 members voted in its favour.

The resolution called upon the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure a prompt, thorough and impartial investigation. If warranted the resolution demands for prosecution of all alleged crimes relating to human rights violations and serious violations of international humanitarian law with the full participation of victims and their representatives.

The resolution also urged the government to address the ongoing economic crisis, including “by investigating and prosecuting corruption committed by public and former public officials.

About 20 countries abstained, and seven countries including China and Pakistan voted against it. Thus, effectively backing the Sri Lankan government.

The Sri Lankan government opposed the resolution reinforcing the Office of the High Commissioner’s capacity to “collect, consolidate, analyse, and preserve” information and evidence pertaining to rights violation.

About India’s view on UN Resolution

India has “taken note” of the Sri Lankan government’s commitments on the implementation of commitments “in the spirit of the 13th Constitutional Amendment”, meaningful devolution and the early conduct of provincial elections

India urges the Government of Sri Lanka to work meaningfully towards the early implementation of these commitments.

Read more: India raises Sri Lankan Tamil issue in U.N
About India’s contribution to Sri Lanka in recent times

India has “substantively contributed” to the relief, rehabilitation, resettlement and reconstruction process in Sri Lanka after 2009.

More recently India provided “unprecedented assistance” to the people of Sri Lanka to face the challenges of the recent economic crisis.

Read more: The many ways of helping Sri Lanka
Print Friendly and PDF
Blog
Academy
Community