HUMAN RIGHT COMMISSION OF SRI LANKA - Annual report 2020
the COVID-19 pandemic did not allow for many cluster inquiries to be held
for
non-implemented
recommendations,
recommendations
not
implemented by the Police were followed-up as a cluster. Several meetings
were held with the IGP and the NPC to raise issues of non-implementation of
recommendations directed to the Police and seek explanations. The
clustered approach was more efficient in yielding positive results than
inquiring into the non-implementation of individual recommendations as
government institutions were called to account for the non-implementation
of multiple recommendations at once. While this highlighted the extent of
non-implementation thereby justifying the intervention by the Commission,
officials were also more responsive as the Commission was able to dispense
with summoning officials multiple times with regards to the nonimplementation of different recommendations.
As a result of the efforts of the Non-implementation Unit, many of the
institutions have taken cognizance of these directions and have responded
to the Commission setting out the initiatives they have taken to implement
the said recommendations. The year 2020 continued to show a gradual
increase in the implementation of recommendations from previous years,
which is a testimony to the success of the Unit.
4.4. Other Monitoring activities
Under its mandate, the Commission is empowered to visit places of
detention to monitor the wellbeing of detainees and to make
recommendations to improve conditions of detention with the objective of
ensuring the rights of detainees are respected and protected. Exercising its
powers, the Commission conducts unannounced (surprise) visits to places
of detention throughout the year. These visits are carried out by the head
office as well as by regional offices. Apart from regular monitoring of police
stations, the Commission made visits other places of detention such as
prisons, remand homes, receiving homes, rehabilitation centers, homes for
children, homes for the disabled, and immigration detention centers. The
Commission conducts unannounced visits throughout the week, including
the weekend, and conducts investigations into allegations of torture and
illegal treatment made by detainees during these visits.
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