HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS SAYS REVIEW OF RWANDA FIELD OPERATION NOT PROCEEDING AS SWIFTLY AS DESIRED

HR/98/33
11 May 1998

Member of HRFOR to Travel to Geneva for Consultations

The following statement was made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, on 9 May 1998:

At the time of my visit to Rwanda in December 1997 it was agreed that there would be a thorough review of the mandate of the Human Rights Field Operation in Rwanda (HRFOR).

The purpose of this review, to be conducted in full consultation with the Government of Rwanda, was to update the mandate of HRFOR to take into account the changing situation in Rwanda and ensure the continuing relevance of the United Nations' contribution to the process of reconciliation and reconstruction in the country.

For a number of reasons, the process of carrying out this review has not proceeded as swiftly as both sides would have liked. The Government of Rwanda has now asked that the day to day operations of HRFOR be suspended pending the conclusion of the review and agreement on a revised mandate.

Accordingly, I have asked Mr Gerard Fischer of HRFOR to travel to Geneva for consultations. Mr Fischer should then be able to return to Kigali and, with counterparts in the Government, reach agreement on a strategy for the future work of HRFOR.

There is no doubt that HRFOR has much to contribute as the Government and people of Rwanda seek to continue the process of recovery from the 1994 genocide. That contribution includes monitoring of the human rights situation in all parts of the country (security permitting); support for the development of an independent national human rights commission and various forms of technical cooperation in the fields of education and administration of justice.

Independently of the review process, the Government of Rwanda has asked that a staff member of HRFOR leave the country. The staff member, Mr José-Luis Herrero, has been HRFOR's press officer over the past twelve months. The Government's proces verbal and recent statements made to the media by Mr Herrero are being examined by the United Nations legal adviser in New York. Mr Herrero will leave Rwanda today (9 May).