HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS TO VISIT REPUBLIC OF KOREA

8 September 2004


United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour will make an official visit to the Republic of Korea from 13 to 17 September.

In Seoul, Mrs. Arbour will meet Prime Minister Hae-chan Lee and other senior officials, including Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban Ki-moon and Minister of Justice Seung-kyu Kim. Following her arrival in the Korean capital she will take part in the Seventh International Conference of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. This year the Conference will provide a forum in which national institutions can discuss strategies and challenges in upholding human rights during conflict and while countering terrorism. The High Commissioner will make an opening statement at the Conference on 14 September and hold consultations with participants.

On 15 September, Mrs. Arbour will participate in the opening of the Seminar on Good Governance Practices for the Promotion of Human Rights. That meeting, organized jointly by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Development Programme, aims to discuss effective examples of governance practices that have had an impact on the promotion of human rights and draw lessons from them. It is set to focus on elements deemed to be essential parts of good governance, including the promotion of the rule of law, strengthening services delivery for human rights, strengthening democratic institutions and participation, combating corruption in the public and private sectors and international cooperation in support of national good governance practices.

During the four-day visit the High Commissioner will also meet with the United Nations team in the Republic of Korea and with national and international non-governmental human rights organizations.



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