REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS TO VISIT AZERBAIJAN

30 March 2007

The Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, Walter Kälin, will undertake an official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan from 2 to 6 April 2007.

During his mission, the Representative will engage in dialogue with internally displaced persons, the Government, international agencies, non-governmental organizations and other relevant actors to assess the situation of internal displacement and measures taken to address their human rights.

The mission will provide an opportunity to identify remaining challenges to finding durable solutions to internal displacement, building on the recommendations of his predecessor who undertook an official mission to Azerbaijan in 1998, and to strengthen partnerships among concerned parties. He will present a report on his findings and recommendations to the Human Rights Council.

Mr. Kälin was appointed to the post of Representative in 2004 at the recommendation of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. In carrying out his mandate, he assesses, every year, the implementation of the human rights of internally displaced persons. Since his appointment, he has carried out several visits and country missions, including most recently to Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, the Central African Republic and Georgia.
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