tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078Sun, 15 Sep 2024 05:43:01 +0000human rightsChild rightsSri Lankaforced migrationviolationsEconomic Social and Cultural RightsMechanisms to protect human rightsStreet childrendocumenting human rightseducationtraffickingIDPbeggersbook reviewchild protectioncivil and political rightshuman rights theorywomen's rightsInstitutionalizationJuvenile JusticeStreet peopleabortionchild labourconflictdivorcefamilyfreedom of expressionhealthhuman rights instrumentsreconciliationreligious conversionssex worktransitional justicehttp://protectingrights.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)Blogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078.post-907300819016920696Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:03:00 +00002010-02-22T07:46:50.634+05:30Child rightseducationSri LankaBack to school programme which is also known as the catch-up programme is a great initiative by the Government of Sri Lanka to implement the Compulsory Education Policy. Yet back to school programme has not been able to yield the expected results. What is back to school programme? Back to school programme is an initiative where children who have never been to school and school drop out http://protectingrights.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-to-improve-back-to-school-programme.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078.post-7468607862357344302Sun, 21 Feb 2010 01:04:00 +00002010-02-21T06:41:52.471+05:30Child rightsEconomic Social and Cultural RightseducationEducation is a key factor that contributes towards shaping the future generation of the country. Education does not mean the literacy rates we have achieved. Education should be the means to develop the total personality of young generation which should include initiative, creativity, discipline, team spirit, cultural values, religious values, respect and tolerance for others. Sri Lanka boast ofhttp://protectingrights.blogspot.com/2010/02/literacy-rate-of-country-do-not-reflect.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078.post-5778765734023405858Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:05:00 +00002010-02-21T06:36:07.226+05:30Child rightsdivorcefamilyToday, sitting in the courts for a final verdict of my divorce case I was feeling terrible. My throat is dry and heart is beating fast. I am feeling extremely guilty. It is not because of a failed marriage or social stigmatisation associated with being a divorced woman but because of making my son an innocent victim of divorce. Now it is too late to reverse the decision. Me and my ex-husband havehttp://protectingrights.blogspot.com/2010/02/children-are-innocent-victims-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078.post-4697572552970972456Tue, 16 Feb 2010 01:03:00 +00002010-02-16T06:34:39.415+05:30Child rightseducationSri LankaSri Lanka boasts about the free education system in the country and high levels of literacy rates. No doubt they are great achievements. It is not only free access to education institutions including Universities that have contributed towards achievement of high levels in the Human Development Index, free text books, free uniforms, free mid-day meal for children in primary school, IT facilities http://protectingrights.blogspot.com/2010/02/does-all-children-have-equal-access-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078.post-9080583657595473742Sun, 14 Feb 2010 03:46:00 +00002010-02-14T09:16:54.054+05:30conflicthuman rightsMechanisms to protect human rightsreconciliationAfter four years of hard work, investments of millions of rupees in consultations Triple R, Reconciliation unit came up with a comprehensive Nationl Action Plan on Reconciliation in 2004. Yet as a result of the change of Government, this report was never utilized. Now after a war situation it is necessary to implement strong programmes on reconciliation in order to maintain sustainable peace in http://protectingrights.blogspot.com/2010/02/implementing-national-action-plan-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078.post-3545794231556649246Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:39:00 +00002010-02-13T07:09:25.211+05:30Child rightsChild Rights in Practice: Bringing Child Rights to Life is a great resource for all child rights activists. Through this user friendly, interactive web portal you can join or develop your own group on child rights, join forums, share videos, photos, events, news, chat and develop networks. Child rights activists, check out this portal, join and contribute towards promoting and protecting http://protectingrights.blogspot.com/2010/02/web-platform-for-child-rights-activists.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078.post-9033611533330475211Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:59:00 +00002010-02-12T07:29:01.650+05:30civil and political rightsfreedom of expressionSri LankaThe Government is trying to limit the freedom of expression in the web to gain control of news websites. According to TRC sources specialists from China are due to visit the country soon to formulate firewalls. It will be made compulsory by the TRC for all news websites operating in the country to register with the Commission. They are planning to adopt a similar system as followed by the http://protectingrights.blogspot.com/2010/02/sri-lankans-web-based-freedom-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078.post-2180747946625603405Thu, 11 Feb 2010 23:45:00 +00002010-02-12T05:15:00.340+05:30human rightsMechanisms to protect human rightsSri LankaHuman Rights Commission of Sri Lanka is suppose to be an independent Commission established under the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka Act No.21 of 1996; with a noble vision, strong mandate and wide powers to strengthen and protect human rights. But unfortunately currently we cannot say that we have an independent Human Rights Commission as the members are unconstitutional, political http://protectingrights.blogspot.com/2010/02/strengthen-national-human-rights.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078.post-4592172114249216464Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:01:00 +00002010-02-11T04:31:00.421+05:30beggersEconomic Social and Cultural Rightshuman rightsSri LankaStreet peopleSeeing people sleeping on the streets is a common site particularly in urban roads of Colombo. These people receive no attention of most by passers. In case if Police officers come across a person sleeping or begging in streets, they could be arrested according to the vagrants act.  Thinking about the street dwellers, many questions came to my mind, for which I do not have proper answers-http://protectingrights.blogspot.com/2010/02/are-streets-only-option-for-homeless.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078.post-8371305731930053485Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:15:00 +00002010-02-10T06:45:00.346+05:30beggersEconomic Social and Cultural Rightshealthhuman rightsSri LankaRight to health is a basic human right and Sri Lanka boasts of having a free health care system. Is the Sri Lankan health care system truely free and accessible for all? The picture dipicts an elderly person begging in front of a traffic post for an eye transplant. Of course we should appreciate the prevailing free health care system in the country. Sri Lanka boasts of the extensive network of http://protectingrights.blogspot.com/2010/02/begging-for-health.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078.post-6818905368051285013Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:31:00 +00002010-02-09T06:01:00.167+05:30civil and political rightshuman rightsreligious conversionsSri LankaviolationsThe peaceful co-existence of religions in Sri Lanka is threatened by un-ethical conversions conducted by a few Christian religious missionaries and Christian faith based organizations. These missionaries and organizations try to un-ethically convert people from different faiths to Christianity by addressing humanitarian issues of vulnerablecommunities. Misusing religious freedom of the http://protectingrights.blogspot.com/2010/02/misusing-religious-freedom-in-sri-lanka.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078.post-6922709993155024779Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:53:00 +00002010-02-08T06:23:00.558+05:30Child rightsforced migrationsex workSri LankatraffickingA child would never want to be a sex worker, if he or she had an option. It is the most margnialized and vulnerable children who become trafficked  as sex workers. Child sex workers do not have any hope about their futures. They dont have a chance to enjoy childhood. Life for a child sex worker is full of suffering.  Addressing issues of child sex workers is extremely risky and http://protectingrights.blogspot.com/2010/02/we-need-to-rescue-child-sex-workers-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078.post-5383749635205336202Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:21:00 +00002010-02-08T06:20:53.116+05:30forced migrationhuman rightsSri LankatraffickingSri Lanka is a destination and source for trafficking mainly women and children for involuntary servitude and commercial sexual exploitation (US Department of State: 2008) This article summerises the trafficking problems faced by Sri Lankans; prevention mechanisms, prosecution mechanisms and protection mechanisms adopted by the Sri Lankan Government to address trafficking issues; and effective http://protectingrights.blogspot.com/2010/02/protecting-victims-of-trafficking-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078.post-2814758305998067268Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:49:00 +00002010-02-06T06:27:19.597+05:30forced migrationhuman rightstraffickingviolationsHuman trafficking is one of the worst human rights violations in our time. This has become one of the major illegal businesses in today’s world. Humans are trafficked for variety of reasons, such as prostitution, forced labour. It is mostly the socially marginalized and poorest women and children who are at the risk of human trafficking. Trafficking is different from smuggling. People are http://protectingrights.blogspot.com/2010/02/rescuing-victims-of-human-trafficking.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078.post-626706914283508248Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:44:00 +00002010-02-06T06:34:44.887+05:30Child rightsforced migrationInstitutionalizationStreet childrenviolationsIn August 2009, the Government of Sri Lanka announced a program on rehabilitating street children by institutionalizing all the children of the streets. Recent study carried out by Save the Children on Children on the Move in Hambantota District clearly pointed out that children are against being institutionalized. They want to live with their family. What the policy makers should understand ishttp://protectingrights.blogspot.com/2010/01/is-institutionalization-of-street.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078.post-8089246952217813021Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:43:00 +00002010-02-06T06:10:44.223+05:30child labourchild protectionChild rightsSri LankaAll forms of child work is not bad. It is only the severe forms of child work which is considered as child labour could have dangerous and negative implications for children. It is important to distinguish between child work and child labour, Child work is light work that is properly structured and phased, and which does not detract from other essential activities of children, namely education,http://protectingrights.blogspot.com/2010/02/is-all-child-work-bad.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078.post-7716166496911681972Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:38:00 +00002010-02-04T15:57:45.260+05:30book reviewhuman rightsSri Lankatransitional justicewomen's rightsBook on Transitional Justice and Women Combatants in Sri Lanka was the outcome of a challenging and interesting research project conducted by me as part of WISCOMP annual fellowship for special projects- 2005. The study looks at how Sri Lanka could successfully Disarm, Demobilize and Reintegrate (DDR) Sri Lankan Army and LTTE women combatants after the civil war of the country. Strategically http://protectingrights.blogspot.com/2010/02/transitional-justice-and-women.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078.post-8273891835270444458Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:11:00 +00002010-02-02T21:15:05.485+05:30abortionChild rightsSri Lankawomen's rightsAbortion is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo, resulting in or caused by its death (Dutt, T and Matthews, M.P.: 1998) According to the Sri Lankan law, abortion is permitted only if there is a threat to woman’s life. It is not permitted if the pregnancy was caused due to rape, if there are fetal defects, reasons of physical and mental http://protectingrights.blogspot.com/2010/02/is-abortion-wrong.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078.post-852477594470070127Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:30:00 +00002010-02-06T06:25:29.986+05:30book reviewforced migrationhuman rightsIDPThe book on ‘Protecting the Post-Tsunami Displaced Persons: Critical Analysis of the Sri Lankan Experience’ written by me, will be published this month by Culcutta Research Group, India. It is an analysis of how and how not Sri Lanka has attempted to protect the victims of the Tsunami during the relief, rehabilitation and the reconciliation phases. The book is inclusive of an analysis of the http://protectingrights.blogspot.com/2010/02/protecting-post-tsunami-displaced.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078.post-6565224720331515744Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +00002010-02-02T21:18:36.262+05:30human rightsMechanisms to protect human rightsPublic interest litigation is a legal way of finding justice for incidence of violence, crimes, and issues rampant in society. PIL has generated much enthusiasm among the legal profession and the civil society groups. “Public Interest Litigation” is a litigation filed by persons or groups that are not directly affected by the act, order or inaction that is sought to be challenged; and litigationhttp://protectingrights.blogspot.com/2010/01/public-interest-litigation-pil-promotes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078.post-7082861913232111246Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:30:00 +00002010-02-02T21:27:46.184+05:30documenting human rightsThere are many human rights documentation methods used by human rights organizations to document human rights. In this article, 5 sucsessful methods used by Sri Lankan human rights organizations are discussed. The human rights documentation methods discussed in this article are, HURIDOCS, Early Warning System, Newspaper Clippings on Killings, Monitoring Reporting of Violations of Human Rights in http://protectingrights.blogspot.com/2010/01/5-methods-used-to-document-human-rights.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078.post-7736963568341306636Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:30:00 +00002010-02-02T21:28:27.945+05:30documenting human rightshuman rightsRakma is a specialized Software to record and analyze human right data. This is a Sri Lankan invention by University of Colombo School of Computing with the funding of Asia Foundation. Rakma is a user friendly software that could be easily learned. It could be easily customerized according to the needs of the user. Tools of Rakma is developed in such a way that local languages (Sinhala and http://protectingrights.blogspot.com/2010/01/rakma-software-to-record-and-analyze.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078.post-6158117537520145849Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:30:00 +00002010-02-02T21:35:45.614+05:30documenting human rightshuman rightsviolationsDocumenting human rights violations and acting on documented human rights violations is an effective way of protecting human rights.  This article discusses about what is human rights violations, why we should document human rights violations and give recommendations for effectively documenting and acting on human rights violations What is documenting human rights violations? http://protectingrights.blogspot.com/2010/01/protecing-human-rights-effectively-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078.post-8719907708244410607Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:30:00 +00002010-02-06T06:40:56.749+05:30human rightshuman rights theoryHuman rights can be defined as ‘the moral entitlements of all human beings to dignified living, full development of personality and social justice.’(Fernando, L: 2002) Human rights focus mainly on the individual. They are rights one has simply as a human being. Human rights are equal , inalienable and universal. (Donnelly, J. 2003: 10)In cases where a collective of people’s rights are suppressed http://protectingrights.blogspot.com/2010/01/human-rights-are-moral-entitlements-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536472434464121078.post-4318254251983995833Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:08:00 +00002010-02-03T12:44:26.652+05:30child protectionChild rightsChild protection means, creating a suitable and optimal environment where children can live without any physical and mental abuse and/or pain, by eliminating or reducing the factors that harm children. Holistic protection and development of the child, (which includes, physical, mental, social and cultural aspects) are focused in child protection work. In child protection work, children who http://protectingrights.blogspot.com/2010/01/introduction-to-child-protection-work.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nirekha)0