New York, Nov 5 2009

The United Nations human rights chief will begin her first official visit to Brazil on Saturday during which she will discuss a range of issues with Government officials, members of civil society and others in three major cities.

Navi Pillay kicks off her weeklong visit in the northern city of Salvador, according to a news release issued from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (http://ochaonline.un.org/).

She will visit an Afro-Brazilian community located close to Salvador, before proceeding to Rio de Janeiro on Monday, where she will visit one of the city’s impoverished districts, known as favelas.

On Wednesday, Ms. Pillay begins her visit to the capital, Brasília, where she will attend the opening of Brazil’s Human Rights Defenders Conference.

While in the capital, she is also slated to sign an agreement that includes measures for establishing three-way partnerships between Brazil, OHCHR, and other countries that request help in improving human rights protection.

ENDS