Haiti / Human Rights: Follow up mission of the United Nations Independent Expert to Haiti

GENEVA (22 November 2012) – The Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti, Mr. Michel Forst, will visit Haiti from 25 to 30 November 2012, to assess the human rights situation since his last mission in February 2012. His analysis of the human rights situation will be reflected in the report he will present at the next session of the Human Rights Council in March 2013.*

« During my mission I will monitor the human rights situation in Haiti and in particular issues related to access to economic and social rights after the hurricane Sandy hit the island » said Mr. Forst. « I would like to work in close collaboration with the Minister for human rights and fight against poverty on concrete actions as extreme poverty is, in itself, a denial of all the rights of any human being ».

The Independent Expert will also monitor the functioning of the judicial institutions, the prison system, the Permanent Electoral Council, the advancements in the reform of the National Haitian Police and the fight against impunity among other issues.

During his mission, Mr. Forst will meet with Haitian authorities, the Parliament, the Ombudsperson (Protectrice du Citoyen), the diplomatic corps, the representatives of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and UN agencies, human rights defenders and civil society organizations.

The Independent Expert will hold a Press Conference on 30 November at 11h30 AM at the conference room of 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. Learn more: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/Countries.aspx

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

UN Human Rights, Country Page – Haiti: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/LACRegion/Pages/HTIndex.aspx

For additional information and requests for interviews please contact:
In Geneva (prior to the mission): Santiago Martínez de Orense (+41 22 928 93 52. smartinez-orense@ohchr.org)
In Port Prince (during the mission): Vincenzo Pugliese (+509 2229 6700, Ext.: 3992 / pugliesev@un.org)

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)

UN Human Rights, follow us on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unitednationshumanrights
Twitter: http://twitter.com/UNrightswire
Google+ gplus.to/unitednationshumanrights
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/UNOHCHR
Storify: http://storify.com/UNrightswire

Check the Universal Human Rights Index: http://uhri.ohchr.org/en