Summary

The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Margaret Sekaggya, presents her fourth report to the Human Rights Council, submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolutions 7/8 and 16/5.

In chapter II of the report, the Special Rapporteur provides an account of her activities during the reporting year. She draws the attention of Member States to the 234 communications sent under the mandate during the past year. More detailed information on the communications is contained in addendum 2 (A/HRC/19/55/Add.2) to the present report.

Summary

Executive Summary

COLOMBO, 29 December 2011 (IRIN) - Sri Lanka is making progress in the battle against mosquito-borne dengue fever, say health officials.

"Over the last two years we have gone all out to stop the spread of dengue," Pabha Palihawadana, head of the Health Ministry's Epidemiology Unit, told IRIN. "Now we are seeing some of the results."

Monday, December 26, 2011 — Seven years after the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, clear signs of recovery and rebuilding abound in south Asia.

Homes, schools, businesses and cultural centers have been rebuilt and communities have become better prepared for future disasters. Survivors in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the Maldives and elsewhere have been able to rebuild their lives after receiving shelter, clean water, vaccinations and psychosocial support from the American Red Cross and its partners.

COLOMBO, 26 December 2011 (IRIN) - Seven years after a devastating tsunami struck Sri Lanka, more work still needs to be done to secure an effective early-warning system, officials say.

More than 30,000 Sri Lankans lost their lives in the Indian Ocean tsunami of 26 December 2004 that struck 13 countries and left more than 200,000 dead across the region.

"We need to improve communication between the agencies," Pradeep Kodippili, assistant director, early warning, at the government's Disaster Management Centre (DMC) told IRIN in Colombo, the capital.

COLOMBO, Dec 23, 2011 – UNICEF, in association with the Ministry of Education, is to roll-out teacher training and improved school management practices in twenty three new schools in former conflict-affected parts of Sri Lanka, thanks to the generosity of a Korean donor.

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Korea, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is funding the teacher training and the sharing of other school management practices a total cost of two million USD/227.8 million rupees over four years.

The Disaster Management Centre informs that 10,225 families have been displaced due to the inclement weather situation and majority of them are from the Kilinochchi District. The situation has also affected holding of the GCE ordinary level examination in some areas.

Obstacles in the implementation of norms & standards of rights in developing countries