HRCSL Recommends Legislative Reforms to Strengthen Independence and Human Rights Protection
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has informed His Excellency the President of the steps taken to implement recommendations made by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) following the Commission’s successful reaccreditation with ‘A’ Status in May 2024.
Following a detailed evaluation, the GANHRI Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) confirmed that the HRCSL continues to comply with the Paris Principles relating to the status and functioning of National Human Rights Institutions. The Commission’s mandate, appointment process, and institutional work were recognized as meeting international standards.
In its communication to the President, the HRCSL outlined measures already undertaken to strengthen its operations, including conducting unannounced visits to places of deprivation of liberty, enhancing cooperation with international and domestic human rights bodies, engaging with civil society organizations, promoting financial autonomy, ensuring pluralism and diversity among staff, and addressing human rights violations such as torture, custodial deaths, enforced disappearances, discrimination, and violence.
The HRCSL also submitted several proposals to amend the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka Act, No. 21 of 1996, with the objective of fully implementing the recommendations made by the SCA.
The proposed amendments include:
- strengthening the HRCSL’s mandate to engage with international human rights mechanisms;
- ensuring greater financial autonomy through direct budgetary allocations and independent financial management;
- promoting pluralism and gender diversity in staff appointments;
- limiting commissioners to a maximum of two terms;
- improving transparency and inclusiveness in the appointment process of commissioners through public calls for applications and consultation with civil society organizations; and
- strengthening the implementation of HRCSL recommendations by recognizing non-compliance as an offence of contempt against the authority of the Commission.
The HRCSL further noted that the proposed provision relating to contempt is consistent with similar provisions contained in the Women Empowerment Act, No. 37 of 2024, which has already undergone constitutional scrutiny.
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