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SRI LANKA - WHAT WILL
THIS GOVERNMENT WARNING MEAN FOR WOMEN'S NGO'S IN SRI LANKA?
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SRI
LANKA - GOVERNMENT WARNING TO NGO'S - POTENTIAL OBSTACLES TO FREEDOM OF
ASSOCIATION & EXPRESSION
July 9, 2014 -The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a
joint programme of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), has received worrying
information from reliable sources about obstacles to the freedom of
association, assembly and expression in Sri Lanka.
According to the information received, on July 1, 2014, the National
Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), which operates under the
Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, issued a warning with immediate
effect to all NGOs in the country, aiming to prevent so-called “unauthorised
activities”. According to the National Secretariat, such activities include
“press conferences, workshops, training for journalists, and dissemination of
press releases which is beyond [the NGOs’] mandate”.
The Observatory recalls that the right to freedom of association, assembly and
expression, including the right to carry out human rights activities such as
conferences, workshops, trainings or issuing press releases, is a fundamental
and universal right enshrined in numerous international treaties and standards,
especially Article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights (ICCPR). While this right may be restricted by the Government,
especially for purposes of transparency and good governance, any restrictions
must always be “prescribed by law”, “necessary in a democratic society”, and
respect the primacy of the general interest and the principle of
proportionality (Article 22.2 of ICCPR and case-law of the United Nations Human
Rights Committee). It should be emphasised that freedom shall remain the rule,
while restrictions should always be an exception admissible under the
above-mentioned conditions.
The Observatory is concerned by these attempts by the Sri Lankan Government to
curtail the freedom of association, assembly, and expression of human rights
defenders , which seem to be aimed at undermining the legitimacy of their
peaceful activities. The Observatory recalls that Sri Lankan authorities have
the responsibility to ensure the protection of human rights in general and of
rights related to freedoms of expression, assembly and association in
particular.
Accordingly, the Observatory calls upon the authorities of Sri Lanka to
withdraw the above-mentioned notice immediately and to put an immediate end to
the harassment against all human rights defenders and NGOs in the country, in
conformity with international human rights standards.
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Non -Governmental Organizations in
Sri Lanka Warned by Defence Ministry not to Hold Press Conferences, Workshops,
Journalist Training Courses, and Issue Press Releases
Dharisha Bastians - 8 July 2014
Sri Lanka’s
powerful Defence Ministry has sought to outlaw press conferences and media
statements by Non-Governmental Organisations operating in the country, sparking
a civil society outcry about an attempt to impinge upon freedoms of speech and
assembly.
A circular
issued by the National Secretariat for NGOs, which operates under the Ministry
of Defence and Urban Development said certain NGOs were “acting beyond their
mandate” by holding press conferences and workshops.......
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http://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=27295 -
Full Article
UN TO EVALUATE SRI LANKA
DEFENCE MINISTRY'S WARNING TO NGO'S
The
United Nations says it will study and evaluate a warning issued by Sri Lanka’s
Defence Ministry to all non-governmental organisations in the country to
prevent “unauthorised activities” with immediate effect.
The National Secretariat for Non Governmental Organisations, which functions
under the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, said in a letter dated
July 1, 2014, that: “ It has been revealed that certain Non Governmental
Organizations conduct press conferences, workshops, training for journalists,
and dissemination of press releases which is beyond their mandate.” They are
ordered to cease this forthwith.......
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