Two UN officials to visit Lanka in April

Two UN special rapporteurs will visit Sri Lanka in April after the new government agreed on the proposed dates. Special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers Monica Pinto and special rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment Juan Mendez will visit Sri Lanka from April 29 to May 7.

Monica Pinto, is a professor of international law and human rights law at the Law School of the University of Buenos Aires and also a visiting professor at Colombia Law School and has taught at the Hague Academy of International Law.

Monica Pinto acts on information submitted to her attention concerning alleged violations relating to the independence and impartiality of the judiciary and the independence of the legal profession by sending allegation letters and urgent appeals to governments concerned to clarify and/or bring these cases to their attention.

Mendez was formerly the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide and Special Adviser to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment.  The mandate of the special rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment covers all countries, irrespective of whether a state has ratified the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.