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7 December 2000



The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Government of Chile reached agreement today on the development and implementation of technical cooperation programmes.

In a "memorandum of intent" signed in Santiago by High Commissioner Mary Robinson and Heraldo Muñoz, Chile's acting Foreign Minister, the Government and the OHCHR agreed that national action plans, human rights education, and promotion and protection of women, children, indigenous people and other specific groups at risks were of utmost importance.

These areas are likely to be the subject of the actual cooperation programmes to be developed. OHCHR and the Government also agreed to support initiatives under the 1999 Quito Framework for technical cooperation aimed at strengthening national capacities for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Southern Cone region.

"We look forward to strengthening our relationship with Chile as it continues its transformation into a leader in the area of human rights", the High Commissioner said. "Today's agreement and the fact that Chile is currently hosting the regional preparatory meeting for next year's World Conference against Racism are further evidence of this transformation".


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