UNITED NATIONS RAPPORTEUR ON INDEPENDENCE OF JUDGES AND LAWYERS TO VISIT ITALY

8 March 2002



The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Dato’ Param Cumaraswamy, will visit Italy from March 12 to14.

The Special Rapporteur, in a communication to the Italian Government on January 23, 2002 had expressed concern over nationwide protests by hundreds of magistrates at the start of the judicial year alleging, among other things, attempts by the Government to undermine the independence of the judiciary. He sought an urgent mission to study the causes for the magistrates’ concerns. Conceding to the request, the Government has invited Mr. Cumaraswamy to Italy.

During the mission the Special Rapporteur will visit Rome and Milan. In Rome he will meet, among others, senior magistrates, the Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Court, the Ministers for Justice and Interior, Parliamentary Commissions of Justice of the House of Representatives and Senate, the High Council of the Judiciary, the National Association of Magistrates, the National Bar Association and non-governmental organizations.

In Milan the Special Rapporteur will meet the Milan branch of the National Association of Magistrates, Sig. Francesco Saverio Borelli, the President of the Court of Appeal and Sig. Geraldo D’ Ambrosio, the Chief Prosecutor, Milan.

The Special Rapporteur hopes to submit his preliminary findings to the 58th Session of the Commission on Human Rights when he presents his reports on April 5, 2002.



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