Human Rights congress concludes in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 April 2005, 01:42 GMT]
Three-day Human Rights Congress held in Trincomalee town since Friday concluded Sunday night with the cultural programme of district delegations from Jaffna, Batticaloa, Mannar, Vavuniya, Puttalam, and Amparai. About one hundred seventy five human rights activists participated in the Congress organized by the National Protection and Durable Solution for IDPs' Project of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), sources said.



Section of activists (animators) attending the Congress

The main objective of the three day Congress was to educate the HR activisits of their duties and responsibilities in safeguarding the rights of the internally displaced persons now sheltered in welfare centres and also to empower the IDPs about their rights. Currently about 360,000 IDPs are in the northeast province and most of them in welfare centres, HRC sources said.

HRCS Commissioner Mr.Selvakaumaran speaking

Mr.N.Selvakumaran, HRCSL Commissioner and the Project Director addressing the activists on "Youths and Rights" said youths could contribute constructively to promote and protect human rights of the people. Protection of human rights should go along with responsibilities of duties of every one. People should know their responsibilities and duties before they claim their rights, he said.

Regional co-ordinators of the HRCSL in the districts of Jaffna, Batticaloa, Mannar, Vavuniya, Puttalam and Amparai participated in the workshop.

Lectures were conducted to participants on Leadership and Leadership Development and Peace building and Team building activities, sources said.