HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION CHAIRMAN APPOINTS INDEPENDENT EXPERT ON SITUATION IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

26 July 2004

The Chairman of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Mike Smith (Australia), appointed on 22 July Titinga Frédéric Pacéré (Burkina Faso) as Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The appointment was made in consultation with representatives of the different regional groups.

Mandate-holders of the Commission on Human Rights are independent from any government and serve in their individual capacity. They represent different sectors of society and have long-standing experience and a recognized record in human rights. They report to the Commission and in some cases to the United Nations General Assembly on their work and recommendations.