UN special rapporteur on human rights meets Sudanese officials

Oct 16, 2005 (KHARTOUM) — The UN special rapporteur on human right in Sudan, Samar Sima, began her visit to Sudan holding meetings with Sudanese officials on situation of the human right in the country and Darfur specially.

She met the rapporteur of the Advisory Council on Human Rights, state minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, chairman of the fact-finding committee on Darfur, as well as the chairman of the committee for compensation in Darfur.

In this regard, the rapporteur of the Advisory Council on Human Rights, Abdelmonim Osman Mohamed Taha, said in a press statement, his meeting with the special rapporteur focused on a number of issues like Sudan’s position on international conventions and inspecting Sudanese prisons.

He further explained that Ms Sima got acquainted with the laws and acts related to women and children in Sudan.

The special rapporteur discussed with the state minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Asammani Al-Wasilah, the implementation of the peace agreement and efforts to realize peace in Darfur, as well as compensating affected people in Darfur.

Ms Sima said she will work as part of the close cooperation with the government in order to improve situations of human rights in Sudan, affirming that she is not coming to Sudan with any denunciations.

The special rapporteur is going to meet the ministers of interior, justice and humanitarian affairs, as well as the adviser of the president for legal affairs and the state minister for justice.

The U.N.’s Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights appointed Sima Samar of Afghanistan as Special Rapporteur on human rights in Sudan on July 29, 2005.

Samar is the former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Women’s Affairs in the post-Taliban Afghan government.

(ST)