Emphasizing the importance of reducing both the supply and demand for drugs, combating the trafficking of drugs and substances affecting the central nervous system, as well as the treatment and rehabilitation of drug users, in order to prevent drug use and abuse. Sri Lanka has stated that an integrated and balanced approach is necessary.
In an intervention in New York at the Third Committee Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) last week on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Combating the Use of Information and Communication Technology in Criminal Activities and International Narcotics Control, the Assistant of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, United Nations and Human Resources Division Director Pramudita Manusinghe said:
She stated that Sri Lanka will work closely with the United Nations Offices and other member states to combat threats related to organized crime across borders, strengthen responses and comply with international conventions on drug control. She also thanked the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and its regional offices for South Asia for providing technical assistance to our country’s efforts to curb the problem of crime.
Ms. Manusinghe emphasized the importance of providing international cooperation in combating criminal activities including mutual legal assistance and extradition. While multilateral cooperation has been improved for the prevention and suppression of these crimes, the rule of law must be continuously preserved to prevent and suppress all forms of crime and its occurrences at the national level. Sri Lanka declared that it would work as a pledge. After Sri Lanka became a party to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime in 2015, it has realigned domestic regulation in line with international standards governing cybercrime. She elaborated that last year a comprehensive cyber security strategy has been adopted and legislation on cyber security and data security has been drafted.
Sri Lanka further expressed its support for the United Nations Strategy on Hate Speech initiated by the Secretary-General. It was emphasized that the terrorist attacks on Easter Sunday strongly reminded all countries that no country is free from radicalization, extremism and terrorism, focusing on Sri Lanka’s experiences from those attacks. Condemning all forms of racism, hatred and violent extremism, Sri Lanka called on all countries to show strong resolve to fight these global menaces and work cooperatively to address their root causes.
Mrs. Dilini Gunasekara, Assistant in the United Nations and Human Resources Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, joining the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly under the Agenda for the Advancement of Women, after the separatist terrorism that afflicted our country for almost 30 years, women-headed households including war-affected widows She stated that Sri Lanka is making efforts to empower women economically. She emphasized that Sri Lanka has developed a national action plan for women-headed households on health, income security and psycho-social services with the support of the UN Gender Thematic Group.
Accelerate positive change on gender equality, empowerment of women and girls and respect for their human rights in peacemaking and peacekeeping, with the support of the Government of Japan and the UN Women’s Programme, and implement UN Security Council Resolution 1325 She informed that Sri Lanka has launched an action plan to prepare an action plan.
Noting that the 25th anniversary of the “Beijing Platform for Action” is next year, it is timely to conduct a comprehensive review of the progress achieved so far and identify gaps in addressing barriers to gender equality and women’s empowerment, she said. did
Mrs. Gangulali de Silva and Mr. Amrit Edirisooriya, the youth representatives of Sri Lanka participating in the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, also addressed the third committee discussion on “Social Development” held last week.
As a component of social development, representing the youth of Sri Lanka, the delegates focused on the challenges of filling the youth skills gap and the need to identify solutions for youth empowerment and rooting out key sources of social unrest and social instability, including youth. .
Recalling the recovery of the people of Sri Lanka, especially the situation after the Easter Sunday attacks, the importance of focusing on social cohesion and building one Sri Lankan community was stressed. “It is important to learn from past events, accept failures and find ways to move forward. Young people need to be guided through the process of healing and reintegration with respect for the other.” was declared by this youth delegation.