Background Release

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE TO HOLD SEVENTY-FIRST SESSION AT HEADQUARTERS

FROM 19 MARCH TO 6 APRIL

Experts to Consider Reports of Venezuela,

Dominican Republic, Uzbekistan, Croatia and Syria

Human Rights Committee

Seventy-first Session

1898^th Meeting (AM)

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE ELECTS OFFICERS, WILL CONSIDER REPORTS OF VENEZUELA,

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, UZBEKISTAN, CROATIA AND SYRIA DURING CURRENT SESSION

BACKGROUND RELEASE

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS TO HOLD FIFTY-SEVENTH SESSION

AT PALAIS DES NATIONS 19 MARCH - 27 APRIL

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 15 March (UN Information Service) -- The Commission on Human Rights will hold its fifty-seventh session at the Palais des Nations in Geneva from 19 March to 27 April.

COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION TO MEET

AT PALAIS WILSON FROM 6 TO 23 MARCH

Committee to Consider Reports of Algeria, Argentina,

Bangladesh, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Japan, Portugal and Sudan

(Re-issued as received.)

Meeting of States Parties for

Convention on Rights of Child

15^th & 16^th Meetings (AM & PM)

STATES PARTIES TO 1989 CONVENTION ON RIGHTS OF CHILD ELECT

FIVE MEMBERS TO CONVENTION'S MONITORING BODY

Also Elect Chairperson, Three Vice-Chairs for Eighth Meeting

SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT WELCOMES

POPE JOHN PAUL II PRAYERS FOR END TO CHILD SOLDIERING

NEW YORK, 22 February (Office of the Special Representative) –- The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Olara Otunnu has welcomed an announcement by Pope John Paul II that he is devoting the month of February to prayers for an end to the exploitation of children in armed conflict.

Preparatory Committee for the 2001

Special Session of the General Assembly

 On the Children’s World Summit

9^th Meeting (AM) and Round Up

Preparatory Committee for the 2001

Special Session of the General Assembly

 on the Children’s World Summit

4^th Meeting (PM)

GIRLS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BEFORE BIRTH, CHILDREN’S

SPECIAL SESSION PREPARATORY COMMITTEE TOLD

CORRECTION

On page 1 of Press Release HR/4516 issued 30 January, the second paragraph should read, as follows:

Preparatory Committee for the 2001

Special Session of the General Assembly

 on the Children’s World Summit

8^th Meeting (PM)

Preparatory Committee for the 2001

Special Session of the General Assembly

 On the Children’s World Summit

7^th Meeting (AM)

PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR ASSEMBLY’S SPECIAL SESSION ON CHILDREN

CONTINUES DISCUSSION OF DRAFT OUTCOME DOCUMENT

Speakers Recommend Changes to Text’s Organization,

Highlight Differing Roles for State, Family in Children’s Rights