UN EXPERT ON FREEDOM OF OPINION AND EXPRESSION TO VISIT SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO, ITALY

5 October 2004


The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Ambeyi Ligabo, will visit Serbia and Montenegro from 10 to 20 October and Italy from 20 to 29 October 2004, at the invitation of the Governments of the two countries.

With his visit to Serbia and Montenegro the Special Rapporteur wishes to examine the evolution of freedom of opinion and expression in a post-conflict society. The Rapporteur is also expected to visit Kosovo to, among other things, assess the role of the media in the reconciliation process.

In Italy, the Special Rapporteur wishes to gather first-hand information on such issues as media concentration, the right to information and new jurisprudence on defamation.

During his visits, Mr. Ligabo will meet with senior Government officials dealing with the media sector as a whole; magistrates; national and international representatives of the Press, including printed media, radio and television channels; students’ and women’s associations; representatives of the United Nations system, and other intergovernmental organizations.

The Commission on Human Rights created the mandate on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression in 1993. The Special Rapporteur gathers relevant information on, among other issues, discrimination and threats or use of violence and harassment directed at persons, including professionals in the field of information, seeking to exercise or to promote the right to freedom of opinion and expression.