The Foundation hosts Human Rights Workshop for lawyers in Central Province in cooperation with the Bar Association of Sri Lanka
The Max Planck Foundation has conducted the third Workshop for lawyers from 5 October – 6 October 2019, in Dambulla, Central Province of Sri Lanka in partnership with the Bar Association of Sri Lanka. The workshop was attended by lawyers from both Central and North Central Province, namely the Anuradhapura, Maho, Kurunegala and Nikaweratiya Bars.
The workshop covered international human rights law topics and dealt with civil and political rights, along with their implementation in Sri Lanka. In addition, the advancement of the public interest by lawyers was addressed in the local context. The sessions were complemented by lively discussions amongst the lawyers, sharing their knowledge and different experiences.
The trainers presented on a range of civil and political rights topics, including fair trial, the right to be free from torture and enforced disappearances, qualified rights, the children’s rights, the rights of persons with disabilities to the right to be free from discrimination. On the subject of public interest litigation, international and local experts presented techniques and advice on strategic litigation and highlighted the role of lawyers in advancing the public interest in Sri Lanka, respectively.
The workshop concluded with an encouraging discussion on the importance of public interest litigation in the quest for justice and advancement of human rights. This was led by the Assistant Secretary of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, Mr Vishwa de Livera Tennekoon and ended with examples from his vast experience in Sri Lanka.
This workshop is the third out of six to be held in partnership with the Bar Association of Sri Lanka at the provincial level as part of the German Federal Foreign Office funded project, “Capacity Building for Judges and Lawyers in Sri Lanka“. The next workshop is due to take place on 7 – 8 December 2019, in Trincomalee, Eastern Province.