REPRESENTATIVE OF SECRETARY-GENERAL ON HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS TO VISIT BRAZIL

1 December 2005


The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders, Hina Jilani, will undertake a fact-finding mission to Brazil from 5 to 20 December 2005 at the invitation of the Government.
The Special Representative will assess the situation of human rights defenders, and examine in particular both the legal framework as well as any possible limitations on the right to defend human rights in the country.
The Special Representative has requested to meet, among others, with the President, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Ministers of Agrarian Development, Environment, Justice, and Planning, the President of the Supreme Court and officials of the security forces including the Federal and State police. She will also meet with a wide range of representatives of civil society, including human rights defenders, the press and officials of the United Nations and of diplomatic missions in the country.
The Special Representative is scheduled to visit Brasilia and São Paulo and the States of Pará, Pernambuco, Bahia, Santa Catarina, where she has also requested to meet with relevant actors from within the local authorities and civil society.
Ms. Jilani will give a press conference in Brasilia on the last day of her visit, at which she will present her preliminary findings. A preliminary report containing the Special Representative's preliminary findings and recommendations will be presented to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in April 2006, and a final report containing her complete findings and recommendations will be published in the course of 2006.

Ms. Jilani, an advocate in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, was appointed Special Representative of the Secretary-General in August 2000.