HUMAN RIGHTS HIGH COMMISSIONER TO SEND MISSION TO TOGO TO ASSESS

 

ALLEGATIONS OF VIOLATIONS LINKED TO ELECTIONS

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 10 June (UN Information Service) -- United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour has established a fact-finding mission to look into allegations of human rights violations in Togo between 5 February and 5 May of this year.  The mission is set to arrive in the country on 13 June for approximately two weeks of field work.

The High Commissioner has appointed human rights expert Doudou Diene to head the mission.  Mr. Diene will lead a team of human rights officers and a forensic expert that will assess the human rights issues arising from the conduct of the presidential elections of April this year, verify reports of alleged violations and compile information on perpetrators. 

The team will meet with Government officials and representatives of civil society, and it will interview witnesses and others whose rights have allegedly been violated, including refugees in neighbouring Ghana and Benin.

Shortly after returning to Geneva the team will report its findings and recommendations to the High Commissioner.

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