HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS TO VISIT CHINA

26 August 2005

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour will visit the People’s Republic of China from 29 August to 2 September 2005.

The visit, the first by Mrs. Arbour and the eighth by a High Commissioner, is expected to formalize the continuation of a programme of technical cooperation between China and the Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) started in 2000. Mrs. Arbour and Chinese authorities are scheduled to sign in Beijing an agreement focusing on facilitating the Government’s ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and on helping China implement recommendations from the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

During the visit, Mrs. Arbour will meet with the Ministers of Justice and Foreign Affairs, as well as with other senior Government officials. She will also hold talks with the President of the Supreme People’s Court and meet with Chinese non-governmental organizations, academics, representatives of United Nations agencies in China and members of the diplomatic community.

In Beijing the High Commissioner will also take part in a commemoration of the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing 10 years ago. In that context she will attend a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday, 29 August. On 30 August Mrs. Arbour will open the thirteenth Annual Workshop on the Asia-Pacific Framework for Regional Cooperation in human rights.

OHCHR has been engaged in a dialogue with the Government of China since 1998, when both signed a “Memorandum of Intent”. A “Memorandum of Understanding” setting the cooperation programme in motion was concluded in September 2000 by the Government and then High Commissioner Mary Robinson.