UN human rights chief to visit Italy, 10-11 March

GENEVA (5 March 2010) - The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay will visit Italy from 10-11 March.

On Wednesday 10 March, the High Commissioner will meet with the Minister of Justice, Mr. Angelino Alfano, the Minister of Interior, Mr. Roberto Maroni, and the Under Secretary to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Mr. Gianni Letta. She will also deliver speeches at the Senate and at the Lateran University.

On Thursday 11 March she will meet the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Franco Frattini and the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Mr. Gianfranco Fini, as well as with NGO representatives.

On Thursday morning, she is scheduled to visit two Roma Camps and an Identification and Expulsion Centre for Migrants on the outskirts of Rome.

The visit will provide an opportunity for the High Commissioner to exchange views on human rights-related issues with the Government of Italy and to engage in discussions about future cooperation and continued dialogue on issues of mutual concern in the country.

The High Commissioner will hold a press conference in Rome at 16:30 on Thursday 11 March at the Società Italiana Per L’Organizzazione Internazionale (SIOI), Piazza di San Marco, 51. (Contact: Nausicaa Masi; tel. +39 06 6789907, e-mail: masi@unicri.it)