Sri Lanka Calls for Review of Country-Specific UN Human Rights Mandates

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka has called for a fundamental review of country-specific mandates within the United Nations Human Rights Council, arguing that such mandates should not continue indefinitely and must be regularly assessed against measurable objectives and tangible outcomes.

Addressing the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Ambassador Sumith Dassanayake, said the Council's resources should be focused on the most urgent global human rights challenges at a time when the international community is confronting multiple crises, including armed conflicts, humanitarian emergencies, displacement and other pressing global concerns.

The Ambassador noted that the Human Rights Council carries a broad and demanding mandate, making it essential to ensure that its work is directed towards situations requiring urgent international attention.

Referring to the ongoing UN80 reform process, Ambassador Dassanayake said the initiative offers an opportunity to reflect on efficiency, prioritisation and the effective use of resources across the United Nations system.

He emphasized that no Human Rights Council mandate should be regarded as permanent, particularly country-specific mandates, which should be subject to systematic and periodic review based on clearly defined objectives and measurable results.

According to the statement uploaded by the UNHRC, Sri Lanka noted that where mandates overlap, the Council should actively pursue consolidation or rationalisation in order to avoid duplication and ensure more effective use of resources.

Sri Lanka also called for the inclusion of sunset clauses and clear phase-out provisions in country-specific resolutions wherever appropriate.

Ambassador Dassanayake stressed that countries demonstrating sustained progress through domestic processes, dialogue, cooperation and technical assistance should be provided with a credible pathway towards concluding country-specific mandates.

He said the continuation of mandates should be justified by demonstrable need and results, not institutional perpetuation.

Concluding his statement, Ambassador Dassanayake called for a focused, objective and mandate-based approach to country-specific reporting within the Human Rights Council.