SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON FREEDOM RELIGION OR BELIEF TO VISIT ALGERIA FROM 16 TO 26 SEPTEMBER

3 September 2002


The Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the question of freedom of religion or belief, Abdelfattah Amor, will visit Algeria from 16 to 26 September at the invitation of the Algerian Government.
During his visit, the Special Rapporteur will visit Algiers, Constantine and Oran. He will meet with officials dealing with questions relevant to his mandate, as well as representatives of communities of religion or belief, non-governmental organizations, and a certain number of individuals who can provide information on the issue of freedom of religion and belief in Algeria.
The visit to Algeria comes within the context of the Special Rapporteur's mandate which consists of promoting and protecting the freedom of religion or belief in light of the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Creed (1981).
Mr. Amor, Special Rapporteur since 1993, has been Vice-Chairperson of the Human Rights Committee since 1999. He is also Honorary Dean of the Faculty of Law, Political and Social Sciences of Tunis and has been President of the International Academy of Constitutional Law since 1996.



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