Briefing note, 17 February 1998

17 February 1998


John Mills, media officer for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that the High Commissioner, as previously announced, was in Paris yesterday where she met with the President, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister. She was returning from Paris this morning.

Mr. Mills said that UNAIDS and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights would tomorrow launch a booklet on HIV/AIDS and human rights. The booklet included guidelines which had been produced after a number of consultations between activist groups and various others interested in this issue. There would be a press release in the press room early tomorrow morning and a briefing by two officials - Mr. David Patterson of UNAIDS and Mr. John Pace of the High Commissioner's Office - in Press Room One at 11 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. Mills said that there had been interest in the Working Group on the Human Rights of Migrant Workers. He was in touch with the Chairman, Mr. Bustamente of Mexico, with a view to arranging a briefing on the work of the Working Group either Thursday or Friday. The day and time would be announced tomorrow.

On Friday, there had been a question about whether or not the Office of the High Commissioner was still interested in opening an office in Pristina. The answer was yes. The High Commissioner still wished to see an office opened there and this was repeated in her statement of 28 January. It was still not possible to open an office there, but in the meantime, the two human rights officers based in Belgrade had freedom of movement and were able to visit Pristina as often as they wished.

Mr. Mills said that another correspondent had asked about Cuba, but there was nothing to report on that. The Office was following developments there closely.

In response to a question on whether there was anything new in these guidelines on HIV/AIDS and human rights and if they were the first major compilation, Mr. Mills confirmed that they were the first major compilation. The guidelines recognized that in the treatment of people who were HIV positive or infected, there were human rights issues involved. Very often in societies, it was the marginalized and minority groups and those who suffered from discrimination who were particularly vulnerable. The argument, supported by the consultations, was that greater awareness of the human rights dimension could assist in the treatment of those who were HIV positive or infected and also assist in Governments' efforts to reduce the spread of the disease.

Asked if Mrs. Robinson did in fact discuss Algeria with French officials in Paris, Mr. Mills said that the High Commissioner was probably getting off the plane in Geneva around now. He had not had a chance to talk to her about what she had discussed and with whom. He said that the news wires yesterday had reported that Algeria was one of the issues acknowledged as having been discussed in Mrs. Robinson's meetings.

A correspondent asked whether the fact that there was still no Special Rapporteur on the former Yugoslavia meant that there were no more human rights problems in that country. Mr. Mills said it did not mean anything of the sort. He said that he had asked the office of the Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights about a question raised earlier on whether the former Czech Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jiri Dienstbier, was a candidate. The office said it was far too early to speculate as there were a number of people being considered and the press would be informed as soon as the Chairman made his decision.