First visit by UN expert on indigenous rights to El Salvador

GENEVA (10 August 2012) - The UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, James Anaya, will visit El Salvador from 13 to 17 August 2012.

“During my mission, I will analyze the situation of indigenous peoples, who are among the most vulnerable and marginalized groups worldwide,” said Mr. Anaya. This will be the first visit to El Salvador by an independent expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor the rights of indigenous peoples.

“I hope this visit will help to give visibility to the concerns of indigenous peoples in El Salvador, concerns that are often ignored by mainstream societies in which indigenous peoples live,” the Special Rapporteur said.

During his five-day visit, Mr. Anaya will meet with officials of the Government of El Salvador and indigenous representatives in San Salvador, as well as hold meetings in the towns of Sonsonate, Panchimalco, Cojutepeque and Cacaopera.

Mr. Anaya will hold a press conference at the end of his mission on Friday, 17 August 2012 at 2:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the United Nations building, second floor, Antiguo Cuscatlán.

Following his visit to El Salvador, the Special Rapporteur will prepare a report with key findings and recommendations on the issues studied during the mission, which will be submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in 2013.

ENDS

On 26 March 2008, the United Nations Human Rights Council appointed James Anaya Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples for an initial period of three years. The Council renewed his mandate for an additional three years in 2011. Mr. Anaya is a Regents Professor and the James J. Lenoir Professor of Human Rights Law and Policy at the University of Arizona (United States).

Learn more about the mandate and work of the Special Rapporteur: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IPeoples/SRIndigenousPeoples/Pages/SRIPeoplesIndex.aspx, or www.unsr.jamesanaya.org

OHCHR Country Page – El Salvador: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/LACRegion/Pages/SVIndex.aspx

For additional information and media requests, please contact:
In El Salvador: Carlos León Ramos (+ 503 2209 3465 / 7742 6186 /carlos.leon@one.un.org).
In Geneva: Maia Campbell (+ 41 22 917 9314 /mcampbell@ohchr.org) or write to:indigenous@ohchr.org.

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts: Ravina Shamdasani, OHCHR Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9310 /rshamdasani@ohchr.org) .

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