(June 22, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Government is to create a new forum to discuss IDP protection issues. The forum includes key stakeholders such as senior public officers, key focal points in the UN system and representatives of the international and local Non-Governmental Organizations engaged in providing protection to IDPs.
Speaking to relevant parties at a recent meeting, Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said it was his intention to create forums in Colombo and Vavuniya where protection issues can be discussed and consensual decisions taken.
”When protection agencies seek to highlight these issues in the media in the first instance, the outcome will be a contest of words and a not a partnership that works on behalf of Internally Displaced Persons,” he added.
He also added that regular coordination meetings would be held at which progress could be monitored jointly by the Government and its partners.
The UN’s Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator Neil Buhne and Representative of the UNHCR in Sri Lanka Amin Awad welcomed the Government’s initiative.
Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and Law cum Commissioner-General for Rehabilitation Suhada Gamlath, Country Representative of UNICEF Philippe Duamelle, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Social Services and Social Welfare, Sunil Samaraweera, Director-General(Legal) of Sri Lanka Army Major General Mohanthi Peiris, Head of office of UN OCHA Zola Dwell, Secretary to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka Chandra Ellawela and representatives of the Ministry of Defence, Child Protection Authority, Police, NGO’s, and INGO’s participated in the discussion. -Sri Lanka Guardian
Home Unlabelled Govt moots IDP forum
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