Panel to discuss how international community can encourage peace and justice in Sri Lanka

Panel to discuss how international community can encourage peace and justice in Sri Lanka TORONTO, February 13, 2013 – The Jack and Mae Nathanson Centre on Transnational Human Rights, Crime and Security at York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School is co-hosting a panel discussion with Amnesty International Canada on Thursday, February 14, 2013 at 3 p.m. in Room 1014 at Osgoode that will examine how the international community can encourage peace and justice in Sri Lanka. (A media feedbox will be set up at the event venue and journalists are welcome to tape all or part of the discussion.) Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives, a non-governmental organization that carries out research and advocacy for public policy in Sri Lanka, and Steven Ratner, Professor of public international law at Michigan University Law School who has advised UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on the Sri Lanka conflict, will be the panelists. Sharry Aiken, Associate Professor of Law at Queen’s University Faculty of Law, will moderate the panel discussion. Osgoode Professor and Nathanson Centre Director François Tanguay-Renaud says this event is timely, as it aims to stimulate public discussion in Canada and internationally ahead of next month’s meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The Council is set to review a report from the Sri Lanka Government on its progress on a motion adopted by the Council last year that called for Sri Lanka “to initiate credible and independent actions to ensure justice, equity, accountability and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans.” “The international community has a crucial role to play in helping to resolve protracted and bloody civil conflicts such as the one involving Sri Lanka’s ethnic groups,” says Tanguay-Renaud. “Instead of turning a blind eye, it is important for countries such as Canada to seek to support and engage peace, reconciliation, justice, and accountability processes.” Thursday’s panel discussion at Osgoode will be followed by another public meeting on Friday, February 15 at 1 p.m. hosted by Amnesty International Canada and the Law Society of Upper Canada at 130 Queen St. W., 3rd floor, the Upper Barristers’ Lounge, Toronto. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu and Canadian MPs from each of the three main parties will discuss what role Canada can play to improve human rights in Sri Lanka. -30- For further information, please contact: Virginia Corner Communications Manager Osgoode Hall Law School of York University - Building 32 on MAP 416-736-5820 vcorner@osgoode.yorku.c