UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VISITS ETHIOPIA AND KENYA

24 April 2006

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour is in Addis Ababa this week to undertake a first-hand assessment of the situation in Ethiopia and hold talks with Government and civil society representatives on how to address human rights challenges in the country.

The visit, which is to last through 26 April, will see the High Commissioner meet with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi tomorrow, as well as with senior judicial and law enforcement officials. The High Commissioner will also meet representatives of parties from across the political spectrum.

Before leaving Addis, Mrs. Arbour will meet with African Union officials and Ambassadors of a number of African countries to discuss the strengthening of their cooperation on human rights issues in the continent.

Today the High Commissioner met with representatives of the UN system in Ethiopia, including human rights staff of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea and members of her regional office, which is based in Addis. She will meet UN Economic Commission for Africa Executive Secretary Abdoulie Janneh on 26 April.

From Addis Mrs. Arbour will travel to Nairobi, Kenya, where she is scheduled to discuss human rights issues related to Somalia with the United Nations Political Office for Somalia, headed by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for the country, François Lonseny Fall. She will also meet with representatives of the UN country team for Somalia based in Nairobi, the diplomatic corps and the Protection Monitoring Working Group for Somalia.