Briefing note, 14 April 1998

Geneva, 14 April 1998


John Mills, media officer for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said this week the Commission on Human Rights would be considering of agenda item 10, the question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world. Many of the Special Rapporteurs would be in Geneva this week. Those presenting reports today included: Max van der Stoel, Special Rapporteur on Iraq; Paulo Sergion Pinheiro, Special Rapporteur on Burundi; Gaspar Biro, Special Rapporteur on the Sudan; Michel Moussalli, Special Representative for Rwanda, and Choong-Hyun Paik, Special Representative for Afghanistan. Their statements would be distributed as soon as they became available.

Mr Mills then gave correspondents a list of experts who were currently scheduled to brief the press this week.

Mr. Mills said the new documents available today were the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in East Timor (E/CN.4/1998/58); the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Rwanda (E/CN.4/1998/61); the report of the situation of human rights in the former Yugoslavia (E/CN.4/1998/63), and the report of the situation of human rights in Myanmar (E/CN.4/1998/70). The report on the former Yugoslavia could be available late this afternoon or tomorrow morning; the minute it was issued there would be copies in the press room.

Concerning the schedule of the Commission, Mr. Mills said there were still some statements left over from last week on agenda items 9 and 17. Those statements would be made this evening. There would be meetings until 9 p.m. tonight, tomorrow and Thursday.