Haiti / Human Rights: UN expert to follow-up on recommendations to Government and international community

GENEVA (25 August 2011) – The United Nations Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti, Michel Forst, will carry out a mission to the country from 29 August to 3 September 2011 to follow up on the recommendations set out in his latest report to the Human Rights Council*. Mr. Forst will assess, among other things, the evolution of the situation of women, children, persons with disabilities, and the internally displaced, since his last visit in April 2011.

“I will focus on issues of human rights in the context of the reconstruction and the humanitarian crisis, in particular economic, social and cultural rights, the fight against impunity and the pursuit of reforms in the area of Rule of Law,” the expert said launching his third visit to Haiti so far this year.

During his six-day mission, Mr. Forst is due to visit Port-au-Prince and the Departement du Centre, where he will meet with the new authorities, parliament, the Office de Protection du Citoyen, the diplomatic corps, representatives of MINUSTAH and UN agencies and Haitian human rights defenders and civil society organisations.

The Independent Expert will hold a press conference on 2 September 2011 at 11.00, at the Conference Room of the MINUSTAH Logistics Base, to present preliminary observations from his visit.

The UN 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.

(*) Read the last reports on Haiti by the UN Independent Expert: 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 (29 August-3 September): Tel: +509 3701 0445 or +41 79 201 0119. From 12 September: + 41 22 928 9355. Email: mvangelderen@ohchr.org
You may also contact Vincenzo Pugliese, MINUSTAH Deputy Spokesperson, on +509 3702 6710 / email: pugliesev@un.org

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