Special Rapporteur on human rights of indigenous people to visit Bolivia

Geneva, 23 November 2007-- The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, Mr. Rodolfo Stavenhagen, will visit Bolivia from 26 November to 7 December 2007, at the invitation of the Government.

The Special Rapporteur aims to examine the situation of the rights of indigenous peoples in Bolivia and to promote the effective enjoyment and guarantee of these rights through a constructive dialogue with the Government, indigenous peoples and other relevant stakeholders . Mr. Stavenhagen will hold meetings with President Evo Morales, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in La Paz, other national authorities, United Nations agencies and programs, indigenous organizations and civil society. He will also visit Sucre, where he will meet with members of different commissions of the Constitutional Assembly, responsible for drafting the country's new Constitution.

In addition, the Special Rapporteur will carry out a number of visits to various departments of the country, including to indigenous communities of Oruro, Potosí, Santa Cruz, El Beni and Cochabamba. The last component of his visit includes a number of follow-up meetings, and will conclude with a press conference on 7 December. He will present the mission's main conclusions and recommendations at the 6th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, on 12 December 2007.

The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people was established by the Commission on Human Rights in 2001, and renewed by the Human Rights Council in September 2007. Since its establishment, the mandate has been held by the Mr. Rodolfo Stavenhagen, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, from Mexico.

For information on the Special Rapporteur's mandate and activities, please visit:
http://www.ohchr.org/spanish/issues/indigenous/rapporteur/