UN Representative on Internally Displaced to Revisit Central African Republic

GENEVA (08 July 2010) – Walter Kaelin, UN Representative on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), will carry out a follow-up visit to the Central African Republic from 9 to 17 July 2010.

Kaelin, who already visited the Central African Republic in 2007 and 2009, revisits the country to continue the dialogue with the authorities on how to better protect the rights of IDPs, notably through a law for their protection.

The UN Representative plans to visit displacement affected areas in the north of the country to assess the current situation, before holding meetings with the authorities, United Nations representatives, civil society and donors in Bangui. He will also participate in a workshop on legislation to protect IDPs, which is organized by the United Nations jointly with the Government and other stakeholders.

Walter Kaelin, professor of law at the University of Bern (Switzerland), has been the Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons since 2004.

OHCHR County Page – The Central African Republic: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/AfricaRegion/Pages/CFIndex.aspx