SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO TO VISIT COUNTRY FROM 19 JULY TO 2 AUGUST

20 July 2001





The Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Roberto Garretón (Chile), will visit the country from 19 July to 2 August 2001.

During his visit, the Special Rapporteur will hold meetings in Kinshasa with the President and the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, for Human Rights, of the Interior, of Information and of Justice.

Mr. Garretón will also meet with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the heads of the United Nations institutions, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of human rights non-governmental organizations, leaders of political parties and trade unions, journalists, and members of international humanitarian organizations. He is also expected to visit a number of prisons and detention centres, as well as conduct a visit to the general hospital of Kinshasa. Further, he is scheduled to meet with students of the Law Faculty of the University of Kinshasa.

Over the course of his mission, the Special Rapporteur will hold meetings in Goma with senior civil and military leaders of the Rassamblement congolais pour la démocratie, as well as representatives of civil society in the provinces of North and South Kivu.

Mr. Garretón will also visit the towns of Gbadolite and Gemena, at present in the hands of the Front de libération du Congo (FLC) which is supported by the Ugandan Army. He will meet with the political and military leaders of the FLC.

Mr. Garretón’s mission will also take him to Lumubashi (Katanga), where he will meet with the Governor of the province, the President of Parliament, the General Prosecutor, the heads of United Nations institutions, as well as representatives of human rights non-governmental organizations.

At the conclusion of his mission, Mr. Garretón will hold a press conference in Kinshasa.

The information gathered during this mission will be incorporated in a report on the human rights situation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which will be submitted to the General Assembly in November 2001 during its fifty-sixth session.

The last visit by the Special Rapporteur to the Democratic Republic of the Congo took place from 11 to 21 March 2001. Mr. Garretón’s mandate was renewed on 20 April 2001 by the Commission on Human Rights (resolution 2001/19).






* *** *