UN Human Rights Chief to visit Colombia, and attend signing of Peace Accords, 24 – 29 September 2016

GENEVA/BOGOTA (23 September 2016) – The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein will begin a six-day official visit to Colombia on Saturday 24 September, at the invitation of the Government.

The visit will commence in Cartagena, where High Commissioner Zeid will accompany the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, and other top UN officials at the signing of the General Agreement for the Termination of the Conflict and the Construction of a Stable and Lasting Peace on Monday, 26 September. The agreement sets out the terms for the end of the decades-long armed conflict with the FARC, through a definitive bilateral ceasefire and cessation of hostilities.

In addition to visiting Cartagena, the High Commissioner will meet local communities in Mampuján and Chocó. He will also meet business leaders in Medellin, before ending his visit in the capital Bogota, where he will meet a number of high-level Government and State officials.

Zeid is also due to meet with NGOs and other members of civil society, diplomats and a variety of other interlocutors at various points throughout his stay in Colombia.

At the end of his visit, on Thursday 29 September, the High Commissioner will hold a press conference at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Bogota - calle 113 # 7-45, torre B, Oficina 1101. Further details to follow. 

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact:

In Colombia: Diana Losada  (+57 1) 658 3300 Ext. 1109  or (+57 1) 310 270 9465
dlosada@hchr.org.co

Travelling with the High Commissioner: Rupert Colville (+41 79 506 1088 / rcolville@ohchr.org )

In Geneva: Liz Throssell (+41 79 752 0488 / ethrossell@ohchr.org ) or Cécile Pouilly (+41 79 618 3430 / cpouilly@ohchr.org)

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