UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS EMBARKS ON TRIP TO BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, CROATIA, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

6 May 1996

Press Release
HR/4296

UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS EMBARKS ON TRIP TO BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, CROATIA, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

19960506 GENEVA, 6 May (UN Information Service) -- United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights José Ayala-Lasso today embarked on a one-week visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) to both assess the status of the peace efforts with respect to human rights programmes and to make direct contact with governments and others to discuss how such programmes can be strengthened. On leaving for the region, the High Commissioner stated: "I have been concerned about this region since taking office. In fact, we have had a field mission in the area since 1993 to assist human rights initiatives of the Commission on Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur, and the Expert on Missing Persons". The Dayton Accord specifically mentioned the role of the High Commissioner in the peace process. At the London Peace Implementation Conference last December, the High Commissioner outlined three principal activities in which his Office could contribute to the peace initiative: developing and conducting training for international personnel charged with monitoring and other activities related to human rights; making available human rights experts to assist in addressing human rights situations which might arise; and continuing to support the work of the Special Rapporteur and the expert in charge of the special process dealing with missing persons. The High Commissioner's visit will allow him to assess the progress being made on these assignments. The one-week trip will include meetings with the highest authorities in each of the Governments in the region, conferences with leaders of the peace effort, and round table discussions with non-governmental organizations. Mr. Ayala-Lasso will also review with his staff the implementation of the human rights programme. Currently, there are human rights offices in Zagreb, Sarajevo, Mostar, Skopje, Belgrade, and Banja Luka, all carrying out the work and mandate of the High Commissioner. With regard to his commitment to, and assignment from, the peace conference, the High Commissioner said: "With the Paris agreement now being implemented, I wanted to make this trip to make direct contact with people on the ground, and to find additional models for cooperation to strengthen the peace process". The goal of the High Commissioner's activities in the region is to help the people from the various countries strengthen their own programmes for the promotion and protection of human rights, so that there will be a lasting peace even after the international forces are gone.

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