First mission to Kyrgyzstan by UN rights expert on sale and sexual exploitation of children

GENEVA (10 April 2013) – United Nations Special Rapporteur Najat Maalla M’jid will undertake an information-gathering visit to Kyrgyzstan from 15 to 26 April 2013 to investigate the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

“During my mission, I will focus on the scope, the patterns and the root causes of the sale and sexual exploitation of children in the Kyrgyz Republic,” Ms. Maalla M’jid said, announcing the first mission to the country by an independent expert charged by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor and report on the worldwide problem of the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

“I will pay particular attention to the strategies and programs established in terms of prevention and protection of children victims,” the human rights expert noted.

The Special Rapporteur, who visits Kyrgyzstan at the invitation of the Government, will travel to Bishkek, Osh and Jalalabad, and to Issyk-Kul to meet with State authorities responsible for preventing and combating the sale and sexual exploitation of children. She will also meet with civil society and private sector representatives, and visit children care centres and shelters.

The UN independent expert will share with the Government her preliminary observations on the promotion and protection of human rights of child victims or vulnerable to sale or sexual exploitation based on the information gathered during the visit.

Ms. Maalla M’jid will hold a press conference on Friday, 26 April, at 12:30 pm, at the 24kg News Agency Press Club, 121/1 Shopokov St. (Business Center, Victory Square, southern side), Bishkek.

The Special Rapporteur will present a comprehensive report containing her findings and recommendations to the Human Rights Council in March 2014.

Ms. Najat Maalla M’jid (Morocco) was appointed Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography in May 2008. She is independent from any government or organization. Ms. Maalla M’jid is paediatrician and member of the Commission on the Rights of the Child of the Moroccan National Consultative Council on Human Rights, and the founder of the non-governmental organization BAYTI, the first programme addressing the situation of children living in the street in Morocco. Learn more, visit: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Children/Pages/ChildrenIndex.aspx

UN Human Rights, Country Page – Kyrgyz Republic: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/ENACARegion/Pages/KGIndex.aspx

For press inquiries and additional information, please contact OHCHR in Bishkek: +996 312 388249 (ext. 215) / ddyikanova@ohchr.org.kg or Jacqui Zalcberg (+41 79 752 0483 / jzalcberg@ohchr.org) or write to SRsaleofchildren@ohchr.org

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

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