UN human rights chief to visit Nigeria, 11-14 March 2014

GENEVA (10 March 2014) – The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, will conduct an official visit to Nigeria from 11 to 14 March 2014, at the invitation of the Government of Nigeria. It is the first such visit to Nigeria by any UN High Commissioner for Human Rights since the Office was created 20 years ago.

During her visit, Pillay plans to meet President Goodluck Jonathan as well as the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Justice and Women Affairs and Social Development, and other senior officials in the Government, National Assembly and judiciary. The High Commissioner will also hold meetings with the National Human Rights Commission, civil society organizations, members of the international community and UN agencies. 

The aim of the visit is to engage at the highest level with the Government and civil society on the promotion and protection of human rights, and to reaffirm the support of the UN Human Rights Office for their efforts to improve the human rights of all Nigerians. It is also intended to broaden the profile and understanding of human rights in general throughout the country.

At the end of her visit, on Friday 14 March at 11:30 a.m., the High Commissioner will hold a press conference at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

ENDS    

For more information and media requests, please contact:

In Abuja: Kelechi Onyemaobi (+234 705 296 5692) / kelechi.onyemaobi@undp.org

In Geneva: Ravina Shamdasani (+41 22 917 9169 / rshamdasani@ohchr.org) or Liz Throssell (+ 41 22 917 9434 / ethrossell@ohchr.org)

Learn more about the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/AboutUs/Pages/HighCommissioner.aspx

For more information about human rights in Nigeria: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/AfricaRegion/Pages/NGIndex.aspx

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