(OHCHR) GENEVA (11 May 2018) – UN rights expert Fionnuala Ní Aoláin will visit France from 14 to 23 May to gather first-hand information on counter-terrorism initiatives and assess how they affect the promotion and protection of human rights.
“I will seek to provide assistance to the French government in promoting and protecting human rights while countering terrorism,” says Ms Ní Aoláin, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism.
During her 10-day mission, Ms Ní Aoláin is scheduled to have high-level meetings with representatives of the Government, including the ministries responsible for foreign affairs, justice, and law and order.
The Special Rapporteur will also meet law enforcement officials, members of parliament, the Council of State, National Commission for the Control of Intelligence Techniques (CNCTR) and National Consultative Commission on Human Rights (CNCDH). In addition, she will go to places of detention to interview people suspected or convicted of terrorist crimes.
Ms Ní Aoláin, whose first official visit to France is at the invitation of the Government, will also hold talks with representatives of civil society, lawyers and academics.
At the end of her visit, on 23 May at 15:00 local time, Ms Ní Aoláin will share her preliminary observations with the media at a news conference at the offices of UNESCO (7, Place de Fontenoy, 75007 Paris). Copies of her end-of-mission statement and press release will be available in English and French. Access to the news conference is strictly limited to journalists.
The Special Rapporteur will present a comprehensive report of her findings and recommendations to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2019.