UN Human Rights Chief to visit Indonesia (5-7 Feb), Papua New Guinea (8 Feb) and Fiji (9-12 Feb)

GENEVA (2 February 2018) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on Monday begins official visits to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Fiji, at the invitation of the respective governments.

From 5 to 7 February, High Commissioner Zeid will be in Jakarta, where he is due to meet President Joko Widodo and hold discussions with top officials, Indonesia’s national human rights institutions and civil society representatives working on human rights issues, as well as religious leaders. On 5 February at 09:30 a.m. local time, the High Commissioner will speak at a Regional Human Rights Conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta, marking the 70th Year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and 25th Year of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. At the end of his visit, High Commissioner Zeid will hold a press conference on 7 February at 11:00 a.m. at the UN Building on Jalan MH Thamrin, kav. 3.

On 8 February, the High Commissioner will visit Port Moresby, where he is due to meet Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, other high-level officials, the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Justice, as well as civil society to discuss key human rights issues in the country.

From 9 to 12 February, Zeid will visit Fiji, where he is due to meet President Jioji Konousi Konrote, Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, and other high-level officials, as well as Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission, the Speaker of Parliament, opposition politicians and civil society representatives, including religious leaders. On 10 February at 19:00 local time, the High Commissioner will deliver a public lecture at the University of the South Pacific. The speech will be webcast live on https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1l5SBrAmda_HONBZN3ONTQ across the University’s 12 campuses. On 11 February, the High Commissioner will visit Natewa Bay, where he will meet the first village community to have been displaced as a result of climate change. The High Commissioner will conclude his visit with a press conference on 12 February at 15:30 local time at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva.

ENDS