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Annan Appoints Sri Lankan Human Rights Veteran
Wednesday, 8 February 2006, 2:21 pm
Press Release: United Nations
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Annan Appoints Sri Lankan Human Rights Veteran As Envoy For
War-Affected Children
New York, Feb 7 2006 3
General
Kofi Annan today appointed
Radhika Coomaraswamy, an attorney and internationally
recognized human rights advocate from Sri Lanka, as his
Special Representative for Children and Armed
Conflict.
Now the chairperson of the Sri Lanka Human
Rights Commission, Mr. Coomaraswamy will advocate for the
protection of youngsters ensnared in war, including child
soldiers.
The Sri Lankan served as the UN’s Special
Rapporteur on violence against women for nearly a decade
ending in 2003. Serving in an unpaid personal capacity, she
reported to the UN’s Commission on Human Rights on a wide
range of issues, from violence in the family and community
to assaults against women during armed conflict and the
problem of international trafficking.
Ms. Coomaraswamy is
also the Director of the International Centre for Ethnic
Studies in Colombo and a member of the Global Faculty of New
York University School of Law in New York City.
In
recognition of her work on national and international
issues, the President of Sri Lanka last November conferred
on her the title of “Deshamanya,” making her the only woman
to receive the title.
Ms. Coomaraswamy replaces Olara
Otunnu, of Côte d’Ivoire, who left the position last
year.
ENDS
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