GENEVA
(8 March 2018) – The UN Independent Expert on the human rights
situation in Mali, Suliman Baldo, will visit the country from 12 to 16
March as the security situation
and human rights conditions deteriorate.
"My
concerns during this visit will centre on the establishment of a
sustainable strategy to tackle the ongoing serious human rights abuses
and violations, as well
as the worrying humanitarian situation,” said Mr. Baldo.
“The
human rights approach demands that there be a victim-centred response
and I would like to see if this is happening in practice. I would also
like to see whether
respect for human rights is being integrated into plans for a G5 Sahel
regional joint force.”
He
continued: "Last September the UN Security Council designated acts that
violate international human rights or humanitarian law as criteria for
triggering targeted
sanctions, and I would like to evaluate the impact of this resolution."
Mali faces a huge security challenge, including the expansion of the activities of violent extremist groups.
"I
would like to see if preparations for the presidential election, the
first round of which is scheduled for 29 July, have begun in order to
ensure that free, fair
and transparent elections will be held,” Mr. Baldo added.
During
his mission, the Independent Expert will meet Malian authorities, the
diplomatic corps, and representatives of the Integrated Mission for
Stabilization of Mali
(MINUSMA), as well as UN agencies, human rights defenders and civil
society organizations.
He will present a full report, including information from this visit, to the Human Rights Council later this month.
END
Mr. Suliman Baldo
(Sudan) took office
as independent expert on the human rights situation in Mali on 1 August
2013. The mandate of independent expert was renewed by the Human Rights
Council on 20 March 2017 for a period of one year to assist the
Government of Mali in its actions to promote and
protect human rights and in the implementation of the recommendations
made in Council resolutions. Mr. Baldo has served as Director for Africa
at the New York-based International Center for Transitional Justice and
the International Crisis Group. In 2011,
he was one of three members of the International Commission on
Post-Election Violence in Côte d'Ivoire, set up by the UN Human Rights
Council.
The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the
Special Procedures
of the Human
Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent
experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the
Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that
address either specific country situations or thematic issues
in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a
voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for
their work. They are independent from any government or organization and
serve in their individual capacity.
For more information and
media requests, please contact:
For
media inquiries related to other UN independent experts please contact:
This year is the 70th anniversary of
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
adopted by the UN on 10 December 1948. The Universal Declaration –
translated into a world record 500 languages – is rooted in
the principle that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity
and rights.” It remains relevant to everyone, every day. In honour of
the 70th anniversary of this extraordinarily influential document, and to prevent its vital principles
from being eroded, we are urging people everywhere to Stand Up for
Human Rights:
www.standup4humanrights.org.
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