Deputy High Commissioner For Human Rights to Visit DR Congo

Deputy High Commissioner For Human Rights to Visit Democratic Republic of the Congo

Geneva/Kinshasa, 19 August 2013 – The United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Flavia Pansieri, will visit the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 22 to 28 August 2013.

During her visit, Pansieri is due to meet members of the DRC Government, as well as senior officials from the security forces and the judiciary.  Pansieri will also hold talks with representatives from civil society and the different UN agencies working on human rights issues in the country.
The Deputy High Commissioner will visit the east of the DRC to evaluate the human rights situation there and the work undertaken by the UN Joint Human Rights Office, in particular with regard to the reinforced deployment of the UN Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO).

She is due to hold talks with local authorities and civil society representatives in Goma, North Kivu, and Bunia, where she will also visit a prison.

Pansieri will discuss tackling impunity and also protecting the civilian population, within the context of cooperation between the UN, the Congolese authorities and NGOs. She will travel to Masisi and Mambasa, where the focus of her talks will be on efforts to combat sexual violence.

The visit by the Deputy High Commissioner, who took up the post on 15 March 2013, underscores the importance of protecting and promoting human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, both for MONUSCO and the UN Human Rights Office.

Pansieri will hold a news conference at MONUSCO headquarters in Kinshasa at 11.30 local time on Wednesday 28 August.

ENDS

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