UN human rights expert to assess the situation of migrants in Angola

Portuguese

GENEVA (29 April 2016) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, François Crépeau, will visit Angola from 3 to 10 May 2016 to assess the country’s current migration programmes, policies and laws.

“Over the past decade Angola has experienced complex migration patterns consisting of both irregular and regular arriving migrants and asylum seekers,” Mr. Crépeau said. “Understanding how Angola is responding to the increasing number of migrants will be an essential part of my visit to the country.’’

During his seven-day mission, the independent human rights expert will meet with a range of government officials responsible for border management, civil society, trade unions, international organisations and migrants themselves in Luanda, Cabinda and Lunda Norte. He will also visit detention centres.

At the end of the mission, Mr. Crépeau will share his preliminary conclusions and recommendations at a press conference on 10 May 2016 at 10:00 am, at the Continental Hotel, R. Rainha Ginga 18, Luanda. Access to the press conference is strictly limited to journalists.

The Special Rapporteur will present a comprehensive country mission report to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2017.

ENDS

Mr. François Crépeau (Canada) was appointed Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants in June 2011 by the UN Human Rights Council, for an initial period of three years. As Special Rapporteur, he is independent from any government or organization and serves in his individual capacity. Mr. Crépeau is also Full Professor at the Faculty of Law of McGill University, in Montréal, where he holds the Hans and Tamar Oppenheimer Chair in Public International Law and is scientific director of the Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism. Learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Migration/SRMigrants/Pages/SRMigrantsIndex.aspx 

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms. Special Procedures mandate-holders are independent human rights experts appointed by the Human Rights Council to address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. They are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organization. They serve in their individual capacity and do not receive a salary for their work

Read the International Convention for the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CMW.aspx

UN Human Rights, country page – Angola: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/AfricaRegion/Pages/AOIndex.aspx

For more information and media requests, please contact:
In Luanda (during the visit):
Claudia Fernandes (+244 226 430 880 / claudia.fernandes@undp.org)
Elizabeth Wabuge (+41 79 109 6875 / ewabuge@ohchr.org)
In Geneva (before and after the visit):
Elizabeth Wabuge (+41 22 917 9138 / ewabuge@ohchr.org)
Alice Ochsenbein (+41 22 917 9830 / aochsenbein@ohchr.org)

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)  

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