The UN Human Rights Council opens its 49th session in Geneva today (28).
Heads of State and other dignitaries from more than 140 countries will address the UN Human Rights Council over the next three days.
This year’s high-level discussion begins with a slight change from the usual beginning, considering a request from Ukraine to hold an urgent debate on the “human rights situation in Ukraine arising from the Russian aggression.”
The emergency debate will be held only if the 47-member panel decides that it should be held.
During the session, the Council will consider more than 100 reports on issues such as torture, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and arbitrary detention.
Human rights reports are examined in about 50 countries in all regions.
They include Myanmar, North Korea, Syria, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
The Council will consider over 100 reports submitted by more than 30 human rights experts and groups.
These presentations will address over 50 countries and 40 themes, including the human rights dimensions of the COVID-19 epidemic.
There will be no resolution on Sri Lanka at this session, and interactive dialogue on Sri Lanka’s progress in promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights is expected during the week.
At this session, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights will present a written update on Sri Lanka to the Council.
The Ministry of External Affairs of Sri Lanka stated that an interactive dialogue on Sri Lanka will be held on March 3, 2022.
External Affairs Minister Prof. GL Peiris, who is leading the Sri Lankan delegation to the 49th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, will address the Session of the UN General Assembly.
He will then talk about Sri Lanka in the interactive dialogue. During his visit, the Foreign Minister will also meet with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other dignitaries.
The 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council will be held until April 1.
