UN WORKING GROUP ON USE OF MERCENARIES TO VISIT PERU

23 January 2007


The Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the rights of peoples to self-determination will conduct a fact-finding visit to Peru from 29 January to 2 February 2007, at the invitation of the Government.

During the visit, the Working Group will hold meetings in Lima and other locations, and consult with representatives of the Government, non-governmental organizations and inter-governmental organizations, as well as other individuals. The Working Group welcomes this opportunity to identify, study and discuss emerging issues, manifestations and trends regarding mercenaries, mercenary-related activities and the role of private military and private security companies and their impact on human rights.

The Working Group delegation will be headed by the Chairperson of the Working Group, Ms. Amada Benavides, and include Working Group member Mr. José Luis Gomez del Prado. The Working Group will later report on the visit to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly.

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The Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the rights of peoples to self-determination was established by the Commission on Human Rights in 2005. The Working Group is composed of five independent experts, serving in their personal capacities: Najat Al-Hajjaji (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya), Chairperson Amada Benavides (Colombia), José Luis Gomez del Prado (Spain), Alexander Nikitin (Russia) and Shaista Shameem (Fiji).

For more information on the resolution establishing the mandate of the Working Group, please consult the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights at: www/www.ohchr.org/English/issues/mercenaries/index.htm.