Gaza flotilla: UN fact-finding mission to interview witnesses in Turkey and Jordan

GENEVA (23 August 2010) – The international independent fact-finding mission of high-level experts appointed by the President of the Human Rights Council to inquire into the Gaza flotilla incident on Sunday began a two-week visit to Turkey (22-29 August) and Jordan (29 August – 4 September) to interview witnesses and government officials, it was announced today. Technical and legal experts are accompanying the mission which intends to inspect the ship Mavi Marmara in which nine passengers died on 31 May 2010.

The fact-finding mission has just spent two weeks in Geneva, drafting its terms of reference and holding meetings with different Permanent Missions in Geneva, including with the ambassadors of Israel and Turkey.

The three high-level experts also started interviewing witnesses in London and Geneva last week, with the aim of gathering first-hand information to assess the facts under their consideration.

As requested by the Human Rights Council’s resolution, the Mission will present its report at the next session of the Council in September.

The fact-finding mission is chaired by Judge K. Hudson-Phillips, former judge of the International Criminal Court in the Hague, and has two other eminent members: Sir Desmond de Silva, Queen’s Counsel, who was Chief Prosecutor of the Sierra Leone War Crimes Tribunal and Ms. Shanthi Dairiam, human rights expert of Malaysia and former member of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.

(*) See the Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/14session/RES.14.1_AEV.pdf

For further information, please contact flotillaffm@ohchr.org