Haiti / Human Rights: follow-up mission by UN Independent Expert Michel Forst

GENEVA (17 February 2011) – The UN Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti, Michel Forst, will visit Haiti from 20 to 27 February to evaluate the situation since his last mission in September 2010, and follow up on recommendations made in his last report to the Human Rights Council*.

“I will focus on issues of human rights in the context of the humanitarian crisis, the implementation of a human rights-based approach to reconstruction, preventing impunity for serious human rights violations and the pursuit of reforms in the area of Rule of Law,” said Mr. Forst launching his third mission to Haiti after the 12 January 2010 earthquake.

The Independent Expert will meet with Haitian authorities, including high level representatives of the government and the judiciary, representatives of MINUSTAH and UN System agencies in Haiti, as well as members of the diplomatic corps and civil society.

During his eight-day mission, the independent expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to assess, report and make recommendations on the human rights situation in Haiti will visit camps of internally displaced persons, prisons as well as carry out visits to the cities of Jacmel and Cap-Haïtien.

The Independent Expert will hold a press conference on 24 February 2011 at 11.00, at the MINUSTAH Logistics Base, to present a preliminary statement on the visit.

The Secretary General appointed Mr. Michel Forst as Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti in June 2008. Mr. Forst is General Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission of France and author of different publications on human rights, extreme poverty and the United Nations.

(*) Check the last reports of the Independent Expert on: http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?m=47

Learn more about the mandate and activities of the Independent Expert: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/countries/ht/mandate/index.htm

OHCHR Country Page – Haiti: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/LacRegion/Pages/HTIndex.aspx

For additional information and media requests, please contact Michael van Gelderen.
During the mission (20-27 February): +509 701 0553 or +41 794 444 078.
From 28 February: + 41 22 928 9355. Email: mvangelderen@ohchr.org or ie-haiti@ohchr.org