North East Secretariat on Human Rights
The NorthEast Secretariat on Human Rights (NESOHR) was established on July 9, 2004, in Kilinochchi as part of the 2002 Norway-facilitated peace process to improve human rights in the north east of Sri Lanka.[1][2][3][4] NESOHR functioned in the Tamil areas until the end of 2008 when it was forced to end its operations. During its operations from Vanni, it released a large number of reports on the ongoing atrocities against Tamils. It was relaunched again in 2013 from outside Sri Lanka.[5]
Joseph Pararajasingham, a member of the Sri Lankan Parliament, and A. Chandranehru, a former member of Sri Lankan Parliament, were founding members of NESOHR. Both were later assassinated, allegedly by para-military members.[2]
Father M. X. Karunaratnam was Chairperson of the organization until his assassination on April 20, 2008.[6][7] In a press release, NESOHR condemned, "in the strongest possible terms", "the Sri Lankan State" for his death.[8]
NESOHR has been cited by the BBC[9] and Amnesty International,[2] as well as Sri Lankan newspapers.[10]
In addition to reporting on human rights, NESOHR has also formed an informal partnership with the Association of Humanitarian Lawyers to discuss the application of international humanitarian law to Sri Lanka's armed conflict.[11]
See also
References
- ^ Background
- ^ a b c Sri Lanka: A Climate of Fear in the East | Amnesty International
- ^ http://pards.org/srilanka2004crhrp.doc
- ^ http://www.ohchr.org/english/countries/field/docs/asia-june05.doc
- ^ NESoHR revives reporting, highlights collective rights
- ^ NESOHR Chairman Fr. Karunaratnam killed in DPU attack
- ^ Bomb blast kills Sri Lanka priest
- ^ NESOHR Condemns Father Karunaratnam's Assassination
- ^ Appeal to UN on Bindunuwewa
- ^ Human Rights Day in Kilinochchi
- ^ Humanitarian Links
External links