SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON EXTRAJUDICIAL, SUMMARY OR ARBITRARY EXECUTIONS TO VISIT MEXICO

HR/99/66
5 July 1999




The Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions of the Commission on Human Rights, Asma Jahangir, will visit Mexico from 12 to 23 July 1999 at the invitation of the Government.

In her second field mission since her appointment as Special Rapporteur in August 1998, Ms. Jahangir will collect first-hand information from a wide range of sources in order to better assess the situation and evaluate allegations of human rights violations relevant to her mandate reported to have occurred in the country. She will pay special attention to allegations concerning the indigenous population and women and child victims.

Ms. Jahangir, attorney at the Supreme Court of Pakistan and Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, will travel to Mexico City and the states of Guerrero and Chiapas and meet with authorities from the executive, legislative and judicial branches at the federal and state level.

The Special Rapporteur will also meet non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and family members of alleged victims, as well as liaise with UN agencies and programmes and other organizations working with issues relevant to her mandate. Ms. Jahangir is scheduled to speak with persons being held for their alleged participation in massacres and visit rural communities were massacres have been carried out.

The Special Rapporteur will hold a news conference on 23 July 1999 on the premises of the UN Information Centre in Mexico City at 10.30 a.m. local time.