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More UN assistance for countries emerging out of conflict

On September 26, Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena, Minister of Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Refugees paid a courtesy call on Sergio Vieira de Mello, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights at his office in Geneva states a press release.

Having congratulated Mr. De Mello on his appointment, Dr. Jayawardena briefed the High Commissioner on the recent developments in achieving lasting peace in Sri Lanka. He added that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as an experienced political leader has taken the correct path to achieve peace. He said that the internally displaced persons in the North and East were eager to go back to their homes but more than one million landmines have made many areas unsafe for resettlement. The Minister renewed his call for international assistance in humanitarian de-mining in the areas most affected by mines.

With regard to the refugees living in more than 100 camps in South India, the Minister said that the Government would expect voluntary sustainable repatriation of such refugees to Sri Lanka once the situation further improves. He added that India was fully cooperating with Sri Lanka in its efforts to bring peace.

He also brought to the attention of the High Commissioner the need to protect the rights of more than 3,000 young widows in the areas most affected by the 20 year long civil war and stressed the need to assist those families headed by females as well as more than 5,000 orphans. The need to rehabilitate more than 150,000 people who have been permanently disabled due to war was also empathised. He also observed that without political and economic stability, the protection of human rights could not be achieved. Responding to the Minister, the High Commissioner said that he has been following the development in Sri Lanka closely for the last 20 years and heartened by the recent positive peace signs.

He also stated that Sri Lanka has taken steps not only to ratify but also to implement the international human rights instruments and therefore the Office of the High Commissioner would be very much interested in supporting peace through the protection of human rights. To this end, he added that his office would appoint a senior Human Rights Advisor to the UN country team in Sri Lanka in the near future. This is a part of the efforts by the UN to assist countries that are emerging out of conflict, as advised by the Secretary General. The High Commissioner undertook to brief the Secretary General on the discussion he had with the Minister.

Mr. de Mello also requested the Government of Sri Lanka through the Minister to invite the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Internally Displaced Persons to assess the situation in Sri Lanka with regard to IDPs and other Special Rapporteurs, as appropriate, that would also help increase awareness among donors and other interested parties. The High Commissioner mentioned that he would certainly develop appropriate strategies to help countries emerging out of conflict.

Finally the High Commissioner also requested the Government of Sri Lanka to continue with its modest financial contribution it makes annually to his office. He greatly appreciated this symbolic contribution made by Sri Lanka as a manifestation of its support to his office despite severe financial difficulties.

Minister Jayawardena also met with the officials of the Global Fund, which has already committed almost US$ 9 million to Sri Lanka to fight TB and Malaria. It was mentioned at the meeting that Sri Lanka was the first in the Asian region to receive funds from the Global Fund.

According to the officials another proposal from Sri Lanka to fight AIDS was under consideration. He briefed the Global fund on the urgent health related needs in the North and East and stated that he would consider nominating a representative of his Ministry to the Country Co-ordinating Mechanism.

The Minister also had a discussion with Dr. Benedetto Saraceno, Director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence of the World Health Organisation. During the discussion, the Minister requested for WHO assistance in providing services for mental and physical disabilities in Sri Lanka, especially as a consequence of the conflict and violence in the country.

The Minister was informed that the Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence would be able to provide support in the areas of providing technical support to make an integrated plan for mental health care and rehabilitation, co-ordinating existing agencies and NGOs involved in providing care and rehabilitation and resource mobilisation.

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