UN human rights expert to assess the impact of unilateral sanctions imposed on Sudan

Arabic

GENEVA (20 November 2015) – United Nations Special Rapporteur Idriss Jazairy will undertake an official visit to Sudan from 23 to 30 November to gather first-hand information on the negative impact on human rights of unilateral coercive measures imposed on the country by States or group of States.

“During my eight-day visit, I will assess the effect of such measures on the Sudanese population in order to prepare relevant observations and recommendations to mitigate or eliminate their adverse impacts,” said the independent expert tasked by the UN Human Rights Council with monitoring, reporting and advising on the negative impact on the enjoyment of human rights of unilateral coercive measures departing from clearly legal multilateral sanctions taken by the UN Security Council.

This is the Special Rapporteur’s first official country visit since the establishment of the mandate and his appointment earlier this year.

Mr. Jazairy, who visits Sudan at the invitation of the Government, will meet with State officials, regional authorities, representatives the diplomatic community, civil society organizations and of relevant UN agencies.

The Special Rapporteur will hold a press conference at the end of the visit, on 30 November 2015 at 14h00, at the UNDP Marawi conference room, UNDP Sudan Gama'a Avenue,House 7,Block 5 P.O. Box 913. Postal Code 11111, Khartoum. Access to the press conference is strictly limited to journalists.

A final report on the visit will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in September 2016.

ENDS

Mr. Idriss Jazairy was appointed by the Human Rights Council as the first Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights. He took office on 1 May 2015. Mr. Jazairy has extensive experience in the fields of international relations and human rights with the Algerian Foreign Ministry, the UN human rights system and international NGOs. He holds a M.A.(Oxford) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, and an M.P.A. (Harvard). He also graduated from the Ecole nationale d’Administration (France). Mr. Jazairy is the author of books and of a large number of articles in the international press on development, human rights and current affairs. Learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/UCM/Pages/SRCoerciveMeasures.aspx

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

Check the Special Rapporteur’s reports: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/UCM/Pages/Reports.aspx

For more information and media requests, please contact:
In Khartoum (during the visit): Ichrak Ben Ezzine (+249 9125 320821 / ibenezzine@ohchr.org)
In Geneva (before and after the visit): Michelle Erazo (+41 22 917 9449 / merazo@ohchr.org / ucm@ohchr.org)

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

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