UN UPR Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s third review – 28th session – 15 November 2017

Sri Lanka was reviewed for the third time by the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism on 15 November 2017.

Only one state mentioned caste in their recommendations, which was accepted by Sri Lanka:

116.36 Adopt measures to strengthen the legal framework with the aim of eliminating all forms of discrimination against minority groups in society, based on ethnicity, gender, caste or any other ground (Uruguay);

See the full Report of the Working Group for more information.


Sri Lanka’s second review – 14th session – 1 November 2012

Sri Lanka was reviewed for the second time by the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism on 1 November 2012. In advance of the review a few NGOs made submissions that had references to caste. You can access all NGO submissions here. The OHCHR report also highligths concerns of caste-based discrimination in their compilation report, as indicated below.

18.It (CRC) expressed further concern about caste discrimination, which affected 20 to 30 per cent of the population and contributed to their poor living conditions, rejection and marginalization.

Unfortunately these references were not reflected in the Report of the Working Group.


Sri Lanka’s first review – 2nd session – 13 May 2008

Sri Lanka was reviewed for the first time by the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism on 13 May 2008. In advance of the review, a joint stakeholders’ submission was prepared abd submitted by IDSN in association with the Human Development Organisation (HDO) and IMADR Asia Committee in Sri Lanka:

During the interactive dialogue, the Sri Lankan delegation was asked about what the Government had done to combat caste-based discrimination. This question is reflected in para. 61 in the Report of the UPR Working Group. Unfortunately, the delegation did not respond to this question in the debate.