USAID funds Human Rights Course in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 April 2006, 00:31 GMT]
The Centre for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (CPPHR) of Trincomalee has been conducting USAID funded nine-month training course on Advanced Studies in Human Rights for youths of Trincomalee. Ms Rachel Wax, Deputy Country Representative of the USAID, awarded the certificates to the first group of 57 successful candidates at an event held Thursday evening in Jesuit English Academy Hall, sources said.

The students have enrolled for the second training course Rev.Fr. Yogeswaran, Director of the CPPHR, said at the event..

Ms Clare McConnachie, USAID Trincomalee regional representative, participated as a special guest.

Rev.Fr. V.Yogeswaran further said, "I came to Trincomalee to establish a Centre that will address the issues of the civil society in respect of Human Rights, its promotion and its protection. The Centre has taken its root and I am sure that it will spread its branches and fulfill the needs of the civil society of Trincomalee where all three communities live. We will work for peace and harmony among the various groups, adopting the methods of non-violent communication and respecting the rights of the neighbor and accepting the differences in culture, religion and language of the various communities."

"I have witnessed the enthusiasm of students to promote and protect Human Rights in the Trincomalee district and these students have initiated in forming a Human Rights Circle under the guidance of CPPHR in Trincomalee. I am sure the small seed sown into the hearts of these few students of Human Rights will grow into a big tree that will shelter many, and they will be the life line of human rights activities of the centre," Rev.Fr. Yogeswaran said.

The Chief Guest Ms Rachel Wax, Mr.R.Thirukumaranathan, Course Director and the General Secretary of the Trincomalee District Bar Association, and Mr.T.Thiruchenthilnathan, President of the Trincomalee District Bar Association also spoke.