Human rights & counter-terrorism: UN expert announces follow-up mission to Tunisia

GENEVA (27 January 2017) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism, Ben Emmerson, will carry out an official visit to Tunisia from 30 January to 3 February to assess progress achieved by the country in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism since the visits of his predecessor Martin Scheinin, in 2010 and 2011.

“I will discuss and asses the implementation of a new 2015 Organic Law on the fight against terrorism and money laundering, and the new 2016 National strategy against extremism and counter terrorism, with the view to ensure that the Government’s measures are in compliance with the international human rights standards,” the expert said.

During his five-day mission to the country, Mr. Emmerson is scheduled to have high-level meetings with representatives of the Government, including the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Justice, Defence and the Ministry in charge of relations with constitutional institutions, civil society and human rights.

The Special Rapporteur will also meet with law enforcement officials, members of the Parliament, the National Commission on Counter-Terrorism, the High Committee for Human Rights and the fundamental Liberties, the National Commission for the Prevention of Torture and the Truth and Dignity Commission. In addition, he will meet with representatives of the international community, lawyers, academics, and non-governmental organizations.

The UN expert on human rights and counter-terrorism, who visits Tunisia at the invitation of the Government, will also go to places of detention to interview persons suspected of or convicted for terrorist crimes.

At the end of his visit, on Friday, 3 February 2016, at 14:00, Mr. Emmerson will share his preliminary observations during a press conference at the Hotel Novotel Tunis (Avenue Mohamed V, Tunis 1002, Tunisia). Access to the press conference is strictly limited to journalists.

The Special Rapporteur will present a comprehensive follow-up report on his visit to Tunisia to the Human Rights Council in March 2018.

Mr. Ben Emmerson (United Kingdom) is the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism. On 1 August 2011, he took up his functions on the mandate that was created in 2005 by the former United Nations Commission on Human, renewed by the UN Human Rights Council for a three year period in December 2007, in September 2010 and again in March 2013.

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 UN 2006 Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy

UN Human Rights, country page: Tunisia

For more information and media requests please contact
In Geneva: Mr. Sharof Azizov (+41 22 917 9748 / +41 79 444 3702 / sazizov@ohchr.org) or write to srct@ohchr.org
In Tunisia: Ms. Ichrak Ben Ezzine (+21 698 745 086 / ibenezzine@ohchr.org)

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

You can access this press release online

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