UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concludes its 68th session

GENEVA (25 November 2013) - The 68th session of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded on Friday 22 November 2013, setting a roadmap for the development of the draft guiding principles on the right of anyone deprived of his or her liberty by arrest or detention to bring procedures before court to challenge the lawfulness of his or her detention.

During its eight-working day session, the Working Group developed a basis for its forthcoming report to the Human Rights Council in September 2014 on national, regional and international laws, regulations and practices related to this right. It also met with representatives from States, other UN human rights mechanisms and non-governmental organizations to consider methodologies and next steps for the development of the draft basic principles and guidelines.  

At this session, members of the Working Group also elected Mr. Mads Andenas, from Norway, as its Chair-Rapporteur and Mr. Vladimir Tochilovsky, from Ukraine, as its Vice-Chair. 

The Working Group further discussed its forthcoming country visits to Morocco in December 2013 and New Zealand in March 2014.  In addition, it adopted 27 Opinions on cases of arbitrary deprivation of liberty in 18 countries. The Opinions of the Working Group will be reported to the Human Rights Council in September 2014.   

(*) The Working Group is comprised of five independent expert members from various regions of the world. In addition to Messrs. Andenas and Tochilovsky, the Working Group is composed of Ms. Shaheen Sardar Ali (Pakistan), Mr. Roberto Garretón (Chile) and Mr. El Hadji Malick Sow (Senegal).

ENDS

The Working Group was established by the former Commission on Human Rights in 1991 to investigate instances of alleged arbitrary deprivation of liberty. Its mandate was clarified and extended by the Commission to cover the issue of administrative custody of asylum-seekers and immigrants. In 2010, the Human Rights Council confirmed the scope of the Working Group's mandate and extended it for a further three-year period in September 2013. Learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Detention/Pages/WGADIndex.aspx

For more information and media requests please contact Miguel de la Lama (+ 41 22 917 9289 / wgad@ohchr.org).

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