UN envoy to assess right to peaceful assembly in Sri Lanka this week

UN Special Rapporteur Clément Nyaletsossi Voule will visit Sri Lanka from July 18 to 26 to conduct an assessment on the right to peaceful assembly in the country. During the nine-day visit, Voule is expected to visit Colombo, along with several areas in the Northern, Southern, and Eastern regions in the country.

He is also expected to meet high ranking officials of the government, judiciary, media, civic groups and the Human Rights Commission in Sri Lanka, the UN Human Rights office said in a press release. “I hope that my visit will aid in the further strengthening of public freedom, at a conjuncture where the country has had to face important challenges, including the recent and tragic Easter terrorist attacks,” Voule was quoted as saying.

He explained that an assessment would be carried out regarding issues on the right to freedom of assembly, while also keeping in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals of 2030. The limitations of these rights which have been imposed in the context of counter-terrorism and emergency regulations, and also on online platforms would be examined by the UN envoy.

According to the UN Human Rights office, a comprehensive report on these observations would be made during the 44th session of the Human Rights Council in June next year.