UN RIGHTS EXPERT ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN TO VISIT THE NETHERLANDS

30 June 2006

Yakin Ertürk, the Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Human Rights Council on violence against women, its causes and consequences, will conduct a fact-finding mission in the Netherlands from 2 to 11 July 2006.

The Special Rapporteur has scheduled visits to The Hague, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht to gather first-hand information. The mission will focus on domestic violence, violence against immigrant, asylum-seeking and refugee women, as well as violence against women in the context of human trafficking and prostitution. During the visit, the Special Rapporteur will meet with representatives of the Government, non-governmental organizations, United Nations officials and victims of gender-based violence.

After the visit, Ms. Ertürk envisages to present a report containing her findings and recommendations to the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Ms. Ertürk, Professor of Sociology at Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey, was appointed Special Rapporteur in 2003.