FORUM-ASIA, 22 March 2012 - UN Human Rights Council Adopts Resolution on Accountability and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka - The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), a regional human rights group with 49 member organisations in 17 countries across Asia, has welcomed the resolution on “promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka”, which was adopted by the UN Human Rights Council (Council) today with 24 States voting in favor, 8 abstentions and 15 voting against[1]. The resolution introduced by 40 co-sponsoring countries calls upon the government of Sri Lanka to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC); to initiate independent and credible actions to address alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights law; and to present a comprehensive action plan towards both these ends. It also encourages the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and relevant Special Procedures to provide advice and technical assistance, and requests the OHCHR to present a report on its work in this regard to the 22nd regular session of the Council in March 2013.

Geneva, 22 March 2012 - "The United States, together with the international community, sent a strong signal that Sri Lanka will only achieve lasting peace through real reconciliation and accountability, and the international community stands ready to help", US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a statement today on the UN Human Rights Council Vote on Sri Lanka Reconciliation. "The next steps are clear. We look to the Government of Sri Lanka to implement the constructive recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and take the necessary measures to address accountability".

Geneva, 22 March 2012 - India's Explanation of vote at the UNHRC on Promotion, Reconciliation and Accountability in Sri Lanka - March 22, 2012 - While we subscribe to the broader message of this resolution and the objectives it promotes, we also underline that any assistance from the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights or visits of UN Special Procedures should be in consultation with and with the concurrence of the Sri Lankan Government. These are norms which all of us in the Council subscribe to. A democratic country like Sri Lanka has to be provided time and space to achieve the objectives of reconciliation and peace. In this Council we have the responsibility to ensure that our conclusions do contribute to this objective rather than hinder it.

Geneva, 22 March 2012 - UNHRC: Voting on US resolution on Promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka - 22 March 2012, 11h 45 - The resolution has been adopted with 24 votes in favour, 15 against and 8 abstained. Details of countries in the voting:

Geneva, 22 March 2012 - UN Human Rights Council in Geneva voted in favour today (22 March 2012) on the US draft resolution on promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka. It was discussed in the morning plenary meeting between 10.00 - 12.00 hours. The resolution has been adopted with 24 votes in favour, 15 against and 8 abstained.

Geneva, 22 March 2012 - UN Human Rights Council in Geneva is to votes today (22 March 2012) on the US draft resolution on promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka. It has been included in the Order of the Day for the morning plenary meeting in room XX between 10.00 - 13.00 hours.

Colombo, 21 March 2012 - Geneva UNHRC and Sri Lanka Government - Media Conference in Colombo - Speech by K.S.Rathnavel , Senior Lawyer, Lawyers for Democracy[LfD]

• Civil society urges government to stop hate campaigns and protect human rights defenders

Civil Society Statement, 21 March 2012 - In the backdrop of the resolution on Sri Lanka being discussed in Geneva and the expected vote on the resolution this week, the Sri Lanka Government and its propaganda teams have intensified an extremely malicious hate campaign against human rights defenders who express their views on accountability and governance issues in Sri Lanka.

The Guardian, 20 March 2012 - Letter By Douglas Alexander MP, David Miliband MP, Jack Straw MP, Margaret Beckett MP - At the 19th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva a US-led resolution is being debated, which seeks to help resolve the outstanding issues of accountability and reconciliation resulting from the end of Sri Lanka's long and bloody civil conflict in 2009. This resolution is not only vital to the prospects of peace and stability but is also a litmus test of the international community's resolve to protect international law and reaffirm respect for human rights.

IndiaGlitz, March 19, 2012 - Several tinsel town celebrities have taken to their microblogging page to condemn the war crimes in Sri Lanka. Footage of their war crime was leaked and civilians from all over the world are fuming at the gory crimes and brutal killings. Tamil film celebs have vented their anger on their part on various networking pages.