HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS APPOINTS PERSONAL ENVOY TO EAST TIMOR

HR/99/42
10 May 1999


The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, announced today that she has appointed Soli Sorabjee, Attorney General for India and former Special Rapporteur on Nigeria, as her Personal Envoy to East Timor. At the request of the High Commissioner, Mr. Sorabjee will undertake a high-level mission to Indonesia and East Timor tentatively from 14 to 24 May 1999.

During his visit to Indonesia and East Timor, Mr. Sorabjee will meet high-level Government officials and various non-governmental organizations and private individuals. The Personal Envoy, who is scheduled to visit Jakarta and Dili, will report to the High Commissioner on the current human rights situation in East Timor and make recommendations on further short, medium and long-term action to ameliorate the situation.

Mr. Sorabjee has held various posts within the judiciary in India where he commenced his legal practice in 1953. He enrolled as Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India in 1971 and went on to become Additional Solicitor General and Solicitor General of India from 1977 to 1980, and Attorney General for India from 1989 to 1990. He was appointed to the position of Attorney General for India again in 1998 under the newly elected Government.

Mr. Sorabjee is a member of the Subcommission on the Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities and holds various positions within local and international non-governmental organizations. He has published widely and has extensive field experience.