Pillay to visit Barbados, 3-5 April – first ever visit by UN Human Rights Chief to English-speaking Caribbean States

GENEVA (30 March 2012) – The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay will make an official visit to Barbados, at the invitation of the Government, from 3-5 April 2012. It will be the first ever mission by a UN human rights chief to any of the 13 English-speaking Caribbean states since the Office of the High Commissioner was created in 1993.

During the mission, Pillay will meet Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, members of Cabinet and other senior officials, the President of the Senate, and Leader of the Opposition. She will also hold discussions with the Ombudsman, and senior judicial figures including the Chief Justice and the President of the Caribbean Court of Justice, as well as members of civil society.

At the end of her visit, on Thursday 5 April, the High Commissioner will hold a press conference at the UN House, Marine Gardens, Hastings, Christ Church at 12h00.

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Learn more about the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/AboutUs/Pages/HighCommissioner.aspx

For more information and media requests, please contact:
In Barbados:
De-Jane Gibbons + 1 246 467 6028
Antonio Cisneros + 41 79 6183429

In Geneva:
Rupert Colville: +41 22 917 9767 / rcolville@ohchr.org
Ravina Shamdasani: +41 22 917 9310 / rshamdasani@ohchr.org

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