HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF SRI LANKA, Annual Report 2019 ▪ Youth Camp on Human Rights One of the most significant outreach programmes during the period under review was the youth camp on human rights. The Commission inaugurated its first ever annual Youth Camp on Human Rights in the previous reporting year, the resounding success of which led to the Commission hosting the second Camp in 2019 (05-09, December 2019) underscoring its continued recognition of the importance to conscientize youth on human rights. The objective of this 5 day residential camp conducted at the MAS Thulhiriya complex, was to inculcate the values and principles of democracy, human rights, diversity and pluralism and Participants at the Youth intercultural learning and dialogue among the Camp 2019 youth based on the theme of “Words Hurt: Youth reflections on Hate Speech”. Approximately 56 youth leaders representing various ethnicities, cultures, and religions from all the districts took part in this camp to imbibe and share views, opinions, knowledge and perceptions of Human Rights. (Please see Chapter 5.1 for more information on the youth camp) ▪ Programmes to foster religious and ethnic harmony among the communities Following the 21 April attack, the Commission initiated a host of programmes to foster religious and ethnic harmony among communities and as a possible solution to neutralize the hostile Participants at the attitudes among the communities. Workshops, awareness programme for discussions, and community forums for building co-existence and communal harmony in Ethnic Harmony, Peace and Co-existence were Kurunegala held in collaboration between Regional Offices and the Head Office with the participation of religious leaders, civil society activists, state officials, the youth, and community human rights activists in different parts of the Island such as in Mawanella, Kurunegala, Badulla, 29