PARLIAMENT

Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (Sri Lanka Branch) will jointly organize a seminar on the Role of Parliamentarians in the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights from 1st to 3rd February 2016 for the CPA Asia, India, and South East Asia Regions to be jointly convened by the CPA Secretariat and Human Rights Unit of Commonwealth Secretariat.

Delegates from Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are due to attend this seminar representing CPA India, Asia and South East Asia Regions. Delegation of Sri Lanka will comprise of Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe, MP, Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training, Hon. (Mrs.) Thalatha Atukorale, MP, Minister of Foreign Employment, Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha, MP, Hon. Vijitha Herath, MP, Hon. Imran Maharoof, MP and Hon. (Mrs.) Shanthi Sriskandarasa, MP.

Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister and Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs will be the Chief Guest at Opening Ceremony to be held on 1st February 2016 at Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel. Hon. Karu Jayasuriya, MP, Speaker will grace this occasion delivering the welcome speech at the inauguration.

The 1st session of the Seminar will commence following the Opening Ceremony and continue for 3 days from 1st to 3rd February 2016. The sessions will be conducted under the theme “The Role of Parliamentarians in the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights” on the following topics;

1. Introduction, Objectives and Expectations
2. Parliamentarians and their Role in the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights
3. The International Human Rights Protection System
4. Regional Challenges: freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, and association
5. Regional Challenges: Group dialogue
6. National Human Rights Institutions
7. Parliamentarians and the Universal Periodic Review Process
8. (a) Regional Challenges (cont’d): freedom of thought, conscience and religion; violent extremism
    (b) Regional Challenges (cont’d): child, early and forced marriage
9. Regional Challenges: Group dialogue
10. Development of recommendations
11. Formulation of Recommendations and Follow-up Actions (cont’d)
12. Finalisation of Regional Declaration and Parliamentarians’ Commitments
13. Finalisation of Regional Declaration and Parliamentarians’ Commitments (cont’d)

Hon. (Dr.) Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, MP, Minister of Justice and Minister of Buddhasasana will be a Panelist on the topic Parliamentarians and their Role in the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights while Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training will also chair a session on the topic Parliamentarians and the Universal Periodic Review Process.