Mr. President,
Sri Lanka welcomes the convening of the Urgent Debate by the Human Rights Council at its 60th Session to discuss the unprovoked attacks against Qatar on 9th September, at the request of OIC and GCC countries.
Mr. President,
Sri Lanka condemns the recent attacks on Qatar, which risk further escalating volatility and undermining regional security. Sri Lanka strongly emphasizes the need to exercise restraint and the importance of employing dialogue and diplomacy rather than military aggression over sovereign countries, while upholding the universally accepted international norms and laws.
The Human Rights Council has a special duty to address the devastating impact of continuing violence and hostility on the people in the Middle East region, especially the dire humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
In this context, Sri Lanka calls on the Council to avoid double standards in its approach and the treatment of situations of human rights violations and ensure that the rights of all are promoted and protected equally regardless of geography and other considerations.
Thank you