The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the International Organization of la Francophonie renew their cooperation for the promotion of human rights
09 October 2013
GENEVA (9 October 2013) – The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, and the Secretary General of La Francophonie, Abdou Diouf, reaffirmed their shared commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights in Francophone countries and their willingness to continue their collaboration in this area.
Navi Pillay and Abdou Diouf signed a new joint roadmap for 2014-2015 which aims at strengthening cooperation between the two institutions, and implementing new projects in areas of common interest for the full respect of human rights and the consolidation of the rule of law.
At a meeting held today in Geneva, they also shared their concerns about the situation in some Francophone countries in crisis and the impact of conflict on populations.
On the eve of the World Day against the Death Penalty, this meeting was an opportunity for the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Secretary-General of La Francophonie to call on all Francophone States to abolish the death penalty while welcoming the global trend, including the in French-speaking countries, towards universal abolition.
Navi Pillay and Abdou Diouf pledged to strengthen joint consultations and initiatives on major human rights-related issues in the Francophone world.
ENDS
Cécile Pouilly (+ 41 22 917 93 10 ou +41 79 618 34 30 / cpouilly@ohchr.org) or Ravina Shamdasani (+41 22 917 9169 / rshamdasani@ohchr.org)
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