UN expert on independence of judges and lawyers to visit Colombia

3 December 2009

 

GENEVA -- The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Ms. Gabriela Carina Knaul de Albuquerque e Silva, is visiting Colombia from 7 to 16 December 2009.

 

The UN expert, who will visit Colombia at the invitation of the Government, will examine the independence of judges, prosecutors and lawyers, as well as the level of access of the population to the justice system. She will also examine the respect of fair trial guarantees in the country.

 

On the basis of her analysis, Ms. Albuquerque will make recommendations to assist the country in exploring avenues to strengthen the independence and effectiveness of the justice system.

 

During the mission, the Special Rapporteur will visit Bogotá, Bucaramanga, Cali and Medellín to meet with a number of high-ranking Government officials, judges from various levels of courts, representatives of the office of the Public Prosecutor, the office of the Inspector General, the Ombudsman, judicial and bar associations, lawyers, academics, international and non-governmental organizations.

 

Ms. Albuquerque will submit her findings and recommendations in a forthcoming report to the Human Rights Council in 2010.