SECRETARY-GENERAL'S REPRESENTATIVE ON HUMAN RIGHTS OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS TO VISIT SUDAN

The Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons, Walter Kälin, will undertake an official mission to Sudan from 3 to 13 October.

The Representative will focus on human rights issues connected with the return of displaced persons to the South of the country as well as on the issues of displaced persons in and around the capital, Khartoum. He intends to travel to Abyei, Malakal, Rumbek and Juba amongst others, and to visit Khartoum area camps. The Representative will meet with officials of the national Government and of the Government of South Sudan, with the United Nations agencies and members of civil society, and with internally displaced persons themselves. He plans to address the issues faced in responding effectively to internal displacement, explore durable solutions, and strengthen partnerships among concerned parties, from the perspective of the human rights of displaced persons in or returning to Southern Sudan.

At the sixtieth session of the United Nations General Assembly in October 2005, the Representative will answer questions concerning his preliminary conclusions on his mission to Sudan. In March 2006, the Representative will present the full report of his findings and recommendations to the UN Commission on Human Rights.

Mr. Kälin was appointed to the post of Representative in 2004 at the recommendation of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

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